v^'-^P'>x^'Z'''->j^i''/i'jy'^y^''.-'-''-^^^^^^ 


NOTES   AND    PAPERS 

OF    OR  CONNECTED    WITH 

PERSIFOR  FRAZER 

IN  GLASSLOUGH  IRELAND 

AND   HIS    SON 


JOHN  FRAZER 

OF  PHILADELPHIA 


1735  to  1765 


BY 


PERSIFOR  FRAZER 

Docteur  es-Sciences  Naturelles  (  VniierstU  de  France) 
Cottespondenl  dct  K.  K.  Rcicltianstall  zu  Wien. 


1906 


•  ■••  •• 


.•  ."  -  ••• 


••••••  ■• 


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In 


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FOREWORD. 


^  In  the  preparation  of  the  following  very  imperfect  sketches  of  the 

branch  of  the  Frazers  descended  from  Persifor  who  resided  in  Glass- 

^  lough  Ireland  during  the  early  part  of  the  XVIIIth  Century,   I  am 

?  under  great  obligations  to  my  kinsman  and  friend  Mr. Joseph  S.Harris, 

'^  who  has  already   made   many   valuable   contributions   to   the   family 

genealogies  of  early  Pennsylvania  immigrants  related  to  the  Harrises, 

including   that   which    is   the   subject    of   the    following   pages.     The 

genealogical  tables  with  dates  of  birth,  death,  and  marriage,  of  the 

earlier  generations,  together  with  his  comments  on  the  individuals 

therein  mentioned  are  almost  literally  taken,  by  his  permission,  from 

printed  and  manuscript  data  prepared  by  him ;  which  however  have 

been  verified  where  possible,  and  in  places  corrected,  Ijy  me. 

I  have  also  ailopted  his  numerical  designation  of  the  generations. 
w  Thus,  he  gives  to  the  generation  of  the  original  Persifor  Frazer  the 

arbitrary  number  "XIV",  to  allow  plenty  of  margin  for  any  earlier  an- 
cestors who  may  be  subsequently  established.  In  each  generation 
(designated  by  Roman  numerals)  he  distinguishes  the  children,  in  the 
chronological  order  of  their  births,  by  Arabic  numerals.  No  case  of 
twins  or  triplets  having  been  met,  this  serves  as  a  convenient  and  short 
method  of  specifying  any  individual,  and  as  no  better  method  occurred 
to  me,  and  I  consider  the  probability  of  discovering  more  than  fourteen 
generations  antecedent  to  the  Glasslough  Persifor  remote,  I  have 
adopted  Mr.  Harris's  method  both  for  my  own  convenience,  and  also 
that  there  may  be  no  confusion  when  his  notes  are  compared  with  mine 
of  the  same  persons. 

It  it  should  transpire  in  the  future  that  the  ancestor  who  is  the  start- 
ing point  of  this  branch  of  the  Frazers  were  indeed  the  missing  Alexan- 
der, brother  of  Simon  Lord  Lovat,  the  labors  of  the  Scottish  historians 
including  Lord  Saltoun,  and  the  College  of  Heralds,  will  have  already 
spared  the  necessity  of  further  research  by  filling  up  the  fourteen  gen- 
erations and  supplying  collateral  branches. 

The  rules  I  have  adopted  to  guide  me  in  this  work  may  be  faulty, 
but  they  have  been  at  least  consistently  carried  out. 

One  of  them  is  that  the  document,  letter,  or  whatever  it  be.  should 
be  reproduced  as  nearly  as  possible  on  the  printed  page.     Conse- 
quently I  have  preserved  with  the  greatest  care  every  fault  in  spell- 
^  ing  and  punctuation.    In  fact  the  preservation  of  these  errors  has  cost  a 

t;  great  deal  of  time  in  copying  them  from  the  original  manuscript,  and 

i 


351933 


in  curbing  the  typesetters'  zeal  to  improve  the  orthography  of  my  an- 
cestors and  their  contemporaries. 

Spelling,  even  of  that  epoch,  throws  some  light  upon  character  when 
one  knows  something  of  the  individual.  But  it  would  have  been  both 
inartistic  and  expensive  to  imitate  literally  all  the  words  of  which  the 
final  letters  were  written  above  the  line  as  abbreviations,  such  as 
ye,  Richd,  Mr  &c.  This  method  of  writing  is  suggested  by  the  in- 
clined line  used  for  fractions,  as  y/e,  Rich/d,  M/r. 

Where  a  list  or  column  of  figures  ends  in  the  middle  of  one  of  the 
pages  of  this  book  its  last  term  is  repeated  and  the  succeeding  entries 
carried  down  precisely  as  if  an  actual  page  had  been  turned. 

But  the  rule  which  I  consider  the  most  important  is  that  of  re- 
cording every  name  I  have  found  among  my  ancestors'  papers 
whether  connected  with  any  other  name  or  circumstance,  or  not.  My 
reason  for  this  is  that  no  one  can  forsee  how  much  light  may  be  thrown 
upon  some  one  else's  genealogical  work  by  the  discovery  of  such  a 
name  in  mine. 

If  all  the  memoirs  of  the  period  covered  in  this  book  were  perfect, 
they  would  form  a  connected  history  of  the  people  mentioned.  But 
as  there  are  very  few  memoirs  extant,  and  none  of  these  perfectly  full, 
there  is  the  more  reason  to  record  every  fact  however  isolated. 

There  are  two  views  held  in  the  family  as  to  the  poHtical  and  re- 
ligious predilections  of  the  first  Persifor  recorded  here.  One  is  that  he 
was  Alexander,  the  eldest  son  of  Thomas  of  Beaufort  the  twelfth  Lord 
Fraser ;  and  like  all  of  his  race  loyal  to  church  and  King.  This  was  the 
record  of  the  clan  chiefs  from  Simon  the  first  Lord  Lovat  and  friend  of 
Robert  the  Bruce,  who  bore  a  distinguished  part  with  that  King  at  the 
first  battle  of  Bannockburn,  and  subsequently  with  David  11  at  the 
battle  of  Duplin  Aug  3.  1332  where  Simon's  brother  Sir  Alexander 
Fraser  was  killed ;  through  Hugh  the  third  Lord  Fraser  who  marched 
to  the  aid  of  James  III  of  Scotland  though  too  late  to  avert  his  defeat 
and  death  at  the  second  battle  of  Bannockburn  June  1 1,  1488;  down  to 
April  16,  1746,  when  Alexander's  crafty  younger  brother  Simon  threw 
a  large  body  of  Frasers  (though  he  did  not  lead  them)  to  the  support 
of  the  Pretender  Prince  Charley  and  against  the  King's  troops  at  the 
battle  of  CuUoden  Moor. 

According  to  this  view  the  original  Persifor  was  a  Jacobite  ;  and  the 
probability  that  he  leased  land  from  the  Leslies,  who  were  strong 
Jacobites,  lends  it  plausibility. 

According  to  the  other  view  it  is  difficult  to  picture  a  great 
Lord  like  the  Master  of  Lovat  transformed  into  a  small  farmer  whose 
habits  of  language  and  thought  resembled  those  of  the  Puritans,  and 
who  exhibited  an  unaristocratic  anxiety  about  meeting  his  debts.  The 
ownership  of  a  seat  in  the  Presbyterian  church  by  Persifor's  son  John, 

ii 


and  the  gift  to  that  son  of  a  family  Bible,  also  suggest  the  probability 
that  both  were  Protestants.  And  while  there  were  Scots  and  probably 
Frasers,  who  though  Protestant  in  faith  were  not  opposed  to  the  re- 
turn to  the  throne,  or  at  least  would  follow  their  chief  to  battle  in  the 
cause  of,  the  Stuarts,  the  probabilities  are  that  the  sympathies  of  a  Scot 
such  as  Persifor  seems  to  have  been  would  be  with  William  rather 
than  with  the  Pretender. 

Yet  the  two  letters  of  the  old  Pretender  (pages  12  to  17) 
which  are  believed  to  have  been  among  the  papers  of  John  Frazer,  the 
first  of  his  family  to  reside  in  America,  are  opposed  to  this  conclusion. 

March  1906.  Persifor  Frazer. 


Explanation  of  Marks  Used  in  the  Text. 

Letters  following  an  inclined  line  in  an  abbreviated  word  were  writ- 
ten above  the  line  in  the  original. 

Small  type  printed  above  the  line  records  writing  which  has  been 
stricken  out  but  remains  legible.  The  same  type  on  the  line  is  used 
for  editorial  comment  to  distinguish  it  from  the  text. 


in 


CONTENTS. 

PAGE. 

Foreword   iii  to  v 

Persifor  Frazer  (b.  about  1667  d.  about 

1 740    I  to  6 

John  Frazer  (b.  1709-  d.  1765) 

General  sketch 7  to  9 

May  30.  1717.  Wm.  Penn's  deed  to  John  Thomas  & 

Edw.  Jones  of  5000  acres  through 
Pritchard,  Reese,  Jones,  Lloyd,  Rob- 
erts, &  Haines 9-10 

Sept.  30.  1735.  Caution  to  the  Electors  of  Pennsylva- 

nia.   Conestogo  by  Emanuel  Friend.  .  .  .11-12 

June  18.  1734.  Letters  from  the  Old  Pretender  James 

May  5.  1740.  HI  (?),  to  Lord  Kenmure  &  to  one 

unnamed 12  to  17 

May  17.  1736.  Power  of  atty  Alex.  Smith  of  Clanick- 

ney  to  John  Frazer 17-18 

May  19.  1737.  Letter  Margaret  Smith  to  her  Uncle 

John   Frazer 18  to  20 

June  3.  1737.  Letter  from   Persifor  Frazer  (XIV-i) 

to  his  son  John 20  to  22 

Aug.  29.  1738.  Notice  by  Collector  Thos.  Cummings  of 

Excise  by  Assembly  of  Prov.  of  Pa 22-23 

Feb.  8.  1738-9.  Notice  to  pay  quit-rent  Phila.,  Lancas- 
ter, &  Pensbury  Jas.  Steel  Rec.  Gen 23 

Leaf  from  Family  Bible  of  John  Frazer, 

last  gift  of  his  Father  Persifor 24 

Feb.  10.  1740-1.  Notice  to  pay  quit-rents,  Phila.,  Ches- 
ter, Lancaster,  Pennsbury,  J.  Steel 
Rec.  Gen 25 

Sept.  21.  1741.  Notice  to  those  desiring  land  to  apply 

to  Land  Office  Phila.,  signed  Rich'd 
Peters  Sec'y 25-26 

1742.  Broadside  against  the  Assembly.  Elec- 
tions of  1742  (anonymous) 26  to  30 

1742.  Broadside  against  the   Governor  and 

Council.  Elections  of  1742  signed 
A.  B 30  to  34 

1742.  The  same  Continued.  Elections  of  1742 

signed  T.  B 34  to  37 

iv 


Oct.  5.  1742. 


1743. 
1744. 

Feb. 

14. 

1744. 

May 
July 
1738 

Feb. 

17 
25- 
to 
2.  I 

to  24.  1744, 
1745- 
1751- 
755- 

June. 

•  1755- 

June 

10. 

? 

1755- 

Dec. 

7- 

1757- 

July 

21. 

1758. 

March  i 

9-  1759- 

Nov. 

16. 

1762. 

Jan. 

5-  I 

I^Z- 

Jan. 

17- 

1763. 

Dec. 

12. 

1764. 

Feb. 

22. 

1764. 

Nov. 

12 

•  1752- 

Dec. 

30. 

1763- 

Dec. 

18. 

I72(?). 

PAGE. 

Proclamation  against  settling  on  In- 
dians' lands  at  Juniata,  Wyonien.and 
Licking  creek  by  George  Thomas. 
Lt.  Gov 37-38 

Almanac  by  Isaiah  Warner 38 

&  C.  Brad- 
ford     38 

Deed,  Coats  to  Leech  of  right  to  fence 

on  Coats'  side  of  Cohockson  creek 39-40 

American  Weekly  Mercury  No.  1272 40 

Supplement  to  Penna.  Gazette 40 

Account  book  of  Dr.  John  Taylor 41  to  47 

Promissory  note  Eaneas  M'Carthy  to 

Robert   Frazer 47 

Letter  to  John  Frazer  from  his  Father- 
in-law  Robert  Smith 49 

Letter  to  John  Frazer  from  his  wife 49 

"      "      "  "         "      "    son  Persifor..50 

Conveyance  by  John  Frazer  &  wife  of 

their  claims  upon  lands  inClanickney  to 

Wm  Crookshanks SO-51 

Letter  from  Robt.  Frazer  (XVI-2)  to 

his  parents 52 

Letter  of  Wm.  Crookshanks  to  John 

Frazer 53-54 

Letter  of  Robert  Frazer  to  his  Father 

John   Frazer 54-55 

Letter  from  Robert  Frazer  to  his 
brother  Persifor 55 

Official  certificate  of  clearance  of  the 

"Ranger"  from  St.  Eustatius 55-56 

Affidavit  of  L.  Weiss  to  accuracy  of  his 

translation  of  above 56 

Affidavits  of  Harper  &  Lukens  to  the 
sailing  of  the  "Ranger"  from  St.  Eus- 
tatius   56  to  58 

Policy  of  insurance  on  Vessel  &  cargo 

of  sloop  "Ranger" 58  to  61 

Policy    of    insurance    on    furniture    & 

equipment  of  brig  unnamed 61  to  64 

A  music  book  of  John  Frazer 64 

Account  book  &  papers  relating  to  set- 
tlement of  estate  of  R.  Bayly 64 

Doggerel  on  loose  sheet 64  to  66 

V 


1764  Draft  of  will  of  John  Frazer • 66-67 

Sept.  10.  I765."  Letter   of   administration   to    Pers.for 

'  Frazer  from  Benj.  Chew 0/  0° 

Jan.  18.  1774.  Account   of   John   Frazer's   estate   by 

■'  Persifor   Frazer .D»to7o 

Jan.             1774.  List  of  desperate  debts  due  estate  of 

■'  John   Frazer 70  to  72 


Genea^logicewl  Tables. 


PAGE. 


Persifor  and  Margaret  (Carlton  or  Clayton)  Frazer  and  their 

children.     Generation  X IV  and  XV  (Frazer)   73 

Robert  and  Mary  (Douglass)  Smith  and  their  children. 

Generations  XIV  and  XV  (Smith) 74 

Children  of  John  and  Mary  (Smith)  Frazer. 

Generation  XVI  (Frazer) •  •  •  •  •  •  • /^ 

Notes  on  the  individuals  mentioned  in  the  preceding  tables 

by  Joseph  S.  Harris "  '  '  ; '  \-  ^c-" 75^^  7  J 

Children  of  Persifor  and  Mary  (Worrall  Taylor)  Frazer. 

Generation  XVII  (Frazer) ■•••••  •  ■ ^" 

Notes  on  the  individuals  mentioned  in  the  preceding  table        ^^ 

by  Joseph  S.  Harris • ;  •■■.'■  Vo li  " 

Children  of  Robert  by  Elizabeth  (Fnes)   and  Ahce  (Pennell 

Yarnall)  Frazer.     Generation  XVIII  (Frazer).  .      . .  .^ »5 

Notes  on  the  individuals  of  the  preceding  table  by  Joseph 

S    Harris  

The  children  of  John  Fries  and  Charlotte  (Jeffers,  Cave)  Frazer. 

Generation  XIX  (Frazer) .  .... ^» 

The  children  of  Persifor  and  Isabella  (Nevins  Whelen)  Frazer. 

Generation  XX  (Frazer) 


VI 


Appendix. 

Notes  on  searches  relating  to  the  history  of  this  branch  of  the  Frazer 
family  at  the  beginning  of  the  XVIII  Century. 

PAGE. 

Persifor  Frazer's  (XVIII-4)  visit  to  County  Monaghan  in 

July   1846 89  to  91 

His  correspondence  with  Mr  W  N  Fraser  August  12  1879.  ..  .91  to  96 
Persifor  Frazer's  (XIX-3)  visit  to  Sir  Bernard  Burke  in  Dub- 
lin and  correspondence  with  him,  with  Mr  W.  N.  Fraser, 

and  with  Lord  Saltoun 96  to  100 

Letter  from  the  Rev.  L.  T.  O'Neill loi 

Letter  from  Mr  W.  N.  Fraser 101-102 

Letter  from  Mr  B.  Homer  Dixon 103 


VH 


Errata. 

Page  i,  Foreword.  First  word  of  third  paragraph.  For  "It"  read  "If." 
Page  13,  7th  line.     For  "throughout"  read  "through." 
Page  74,  genealogical  table  (XV)  of  Robt.  Smith  and  Mary  Douglass. 
Lines  2  and  3.    Enter  "1744"  under  "Date  of  marriage." 
Line  6.     Enter  "about  1780."  under  "Date  of  marriage." 
Line  7.     Enter  "Dec,  1783."    "Date  of  marriage." 
The  above  dates  were  obtained  from  Anthony  Blackburn's 
brief  dated  1784.     In  line  6,  "about  1780"  is  assumed  from 
the  phrase  "several  years  ago." 
Page  78,  9th  line.     For  "XVI-f "  read  "XVI-2." 
Page  87,  5th  line.     For  "Vice-Provast"  read  "Vice-Provost." 
Page  100,  5th  paragraph,  4th  line.  For  "sattirewise"  read  "saltirewise." 


Persifor  Frazer  XIV-i.      b.  about  1667 
d.  about  1740 

Some  time  in  the  last  decade  of  the  XVlIth  Century  there  settled 
in  the  townland  of  Tonyhannigus  (written  also  Tonnyhamigus,  Tony- 
hannigin,  etc.,)  near  the  village  and  lake  of  Glasslough  in  the  County 
Monaghan  Ireland,  a  Scot  named  Persifor  Frazer  who,  according  to  an 
entry  in  the  family  Bible  of  Robert  his  great  grandson,  had  attached 
himself  to  the,  cause  of  William  III,  gone  with  his  army  into  Ireland 
about  1690,  and  settled  there.*  His  wife  was  Margery  Clayton,  Calton, 
or  Carlton,  but  whether  he  married  her  in  Scotland  or  in  Ireland  is 
not  known.  The  surname  Frazer  was  rare  in  that  part  of  Ireland 
then,  and  the  first  name  was  entirely  unknown,  there  or  elsewhere. 
Sir  Bernard  Burke,  Ulster  King  at  Arms  in  Dublin,  Mr.  Stoddard, 
Lyon  King  at  Arms  in  Edinburgh,  Mr.  Wm.  Fraser,  Writer  of  the 
Signet,  and  a  large  number  of  persons  well  skilled  in  Scotch  genealogy 
have  declared  to  me  they  never  met  the  name  "Persifor";  and  every 
documentary  authority  accessible  has  been  searched  without  discover- 
ing any  trace  of  it. 

It  seems  possible  that  "Persifor"  may  have  been  a  variant  of  the  not 
unusual  name  of  Percival,  Parcival,  Parsifal,  Parchvail,  Perchvail,  Par- 
zival,  Percy,  Perceforet,  etc.,  but  although  at  the  time  of  its  probable 
origin  "the  rules  of  architecture  were  strict  and  orthography  was  op- 
tional," neither  "Lippenfaulheit"  nor  bad  orthography  can  satisfac- 
torily account  for  the  transformation  of  "al"  or  "fal"  to  "for" ;  and  this 
fact  led  Persifor  Frazer  (b.  i8og)  to  ofTer  the  following  ingenious,  if  as 
yet  unverifiable,  hypothesis  to  explain  the  name  and  the  identity  of  its 
first  bearer.  It  is  recorded  that  Alexander  the  eldest  son  of  the 
Master  of  Lovat,  had  slain  a  piper  at  either  a  marriage  feast  or  funeral 
ceremony  celebrated  at  his  Father's  castle  in  1689,  and  had  thereupon 
fled  from  the  country  and  disappeared.  One  tradition  would  have  it 
that  he  went  to  Wales,  but  there  seems  no  surer  foundation  for  this 
surmise  than  for  others  that  he  went  to  England,  to  France,  or  to 
Ireland.  All  accounts  agree,  however,  that  he  disappeared,  and  while 
some  able  commentators  have  scouted  the  notion  that  in  those  days  a 
Scot  of  high  birth  should  have  given  himself  any  great  concern  at  tak- 
ing the  life  of  a  mere  piper,  yet  the  fact  of  his  flight  would  lead  to 
another  conclusion;  and  basing  the  guess  upon  the  assumption  that 
Alexander  was  stricken  with  remorse,  which  would  explain  his  sudden 

♦See  Foreword. 


disappearance;  and  recalling  the  fact  that  shortly  after  the  tragedy 
a  Frazer  with  the  forename  "Persifor"  appeared  mysteriously  in  a 
part  of  the  Kingdom  of  Ireland  where  Frazers  were  previously  un- 
known, the  uncle  of  the  present  writer  suggested  that  the  wanderer 
after  winning  a  victory  over  the  evil  in  his  nature  by  rigorous  self 
abasement  and  sincere  contrition,  had  adopted  for  himself  a  first  name, 
contracted,  according  to  the  manner  of  the  time,  from  the  words 
per  sc  fortis,  "Strong  through  himself".  It  is  quite  true  that  the 
written  words  which  he  has  left  fully  accord  with  the  spirit  of  self 
deprecation  and  melancholy  from  which  the  unfortunate  man  was  sup- 
posed to  suffer,  but  his  religious  sense  is  so  unmistakable  that  it  would 
seem  more  likely  for  him  to  have  chosen  a  name  condensed  from  "Per 
Deum  fortis". 

A  plausible  hypothesis  is  that  the  word  "Persifor"  is  a  perversion 
of  "Persevere".  This  supplies  the  consonant  skeleton  more  perfectly 
than  the  other  words  considered,  and  was  equally  in  harmony  with  the 
usage  of  the  times.  The  motto  or  device  is  also  in  keeping  with  the 
supposed  temper  of  the  man.* 

That  the  name  was  found  in  other  families  near  the  middle  of  the 
XVIIIth  Century  is  shown  from  the  letter  of  Persifor  Carr,  Sergeant  in 
the  48th  British  Regiment  to  "Persifer  Frazer"  (XVI-I)  dated  "New 
York  2 1  St  May  1768,  but  in  this  case  his  acquaintance  with  the  family 
of  the  Persifor  Frazers  renders  it  more  than  likely  that  he  was  in  some 
way  related  to  them  and  may  have  been  named  Persifor  for  one  of 
them,  t 

*Vide.  "Etymological  dictionary  of  family  and  Christian  names"  etc.,  by  William 
Arthur  M.A.,  Sheldon,  Blakeman  and  Co.  115  Nassau  St.,  New  York.  "Personal 
and  family  names"  etc.,  by  Harry  Alfred  Long,  Glasgow  School  Board.  London. 
Hamilton  Adams  and  Co.  1883.  "Curiosities  of  Puritan  nomenclature"  by  Chas. 
W.  Bradsley.  R.  Worthington  770  Broadway  New  York.  1880.  "What  is  your 
name?"  etc.,  by  Sophy  Moody.     Richard  Bartley.     London.     1863. 

None  of  these  works  mentions  "Persifor"  though  Long  gives  (pp.  144  and  146) 
Percy,  and  Percival  as  signifying  "head  of  the  valley." 

I  am  indebted  to  Mr.  Joseph  S.  Harris  for  the  following  notes.  The  New  Inter- 
national Encyclopedia,  Vol.  XIII  p.  923.  Perccforct.  A  French  romance,  giving  the 
fabled  history  of  Britain  before  the  days  of  King  Arthur,  first  printed  in  Paris  in  1528 
— It  is  assigned  to  the  latter  part  of  the  13th  Century,  and  the  man  who  gave  it  to 
the  world  says  that  he  found  it  in  an  English  Monastery. 

King  Perceforet,  who  was  so  named  on  account  of  his  feat  of  conquering  an 
enchanted  forest,  came  to  Britain  with  Alexander  the  Great  after  the  extinction  of 
the  royal  house  of  Brut,     (which  is  supposed  to  have  once  reigned  over  Britain). 

Maurice  Hewlett  in  his  novel  (published  1903  or  4)  "The  Queen's  Quair"  (i.  e. 
quair  or  cahier — meaning  a  little  blank  note  book),  says  at  the  beginning  of  Chapter 
IV  that  the  Gordons  of  Scotland  a  family  of  great  antiquity  and  pride  trace  their  de- 
scent from  GadilTer,  brother  of  Perceforest,  whose  right  name  was  Batis,  who  was  a 
descendant  of  Brutus,  who  himself  descended  from  Laomedon,  King  of  Troy. 

These  two  notes  lead  me  to  believe,  or  rather  perhaps  to  conjecture,  that  the 
popular  romance  printed  in  1528,  had  taken  the  fancy  of  the  Scotch,  who  treated  it  as 
semi-aulhentic,  and  took  from  it  the  title-n.Tme  of  their  children, 

tin  a  recent  account  of  arrivals  at  one  of  the  European  Summer  resorts  which 
was  Dublished  in  the  Paris  edition  of  the  New  York  Herald,  the  name  "Mrs.  Frances 


The  essential  facts  are  that  a  sober,  pious  Scot  named  Persifor 
Frazer  appeared  about  1690  in  the  neighborhood  of  Glasslough, 
townland  of  Tonyhannigin,  County  Monaghan,  Ireland,  where  he  set- 
tled, probably  leasing  the  place  from  the  Leslies  of  whose  estate  it  was 
a  part  as  late  as  1883,  when  Sir  John  Leslie  was  the  "owner  of  Glass- 
lough and  all  the  lands  about  it'.  (See  Appendix.  Letter  of  Rev. 
L.  I.  O'Neill). 

This  Persifor  Frazer,  who  is  supposed  to  have  been  born  about 
1667,  and  to  have  died  about  1740,  married  Margery  (or  Margaret) 
Clayton  (or  Carlton)  somewhere  about  1700,  lived  with  her  in  Tony- 
hannigin  and  had  by  her  seven  children  to  wit : 

I.     Elizabeth  b.  about  1701.  m.  Alexander  Smith  about   1718 

d.  after  1766. 

2  Persifor  b.  about  1703.  did  not  marry,  d.  1737.    ? 

3  Rebecca  b.  about  1705.  did  not  marry  d.  ? 

4  a  daughter,  name  unknown,  b.  about  1707,  m.  —  Speer  and  lived 

in  Del.  Co.  Pa.     d.  ? 

5  John  b.  Aug.  8.  1709.  m.  Mary  Smith,  June  16  1735, 

lived  in  Newtown,  Del.  Co.  Pa.  d.  Sept.  7.  1765. 

6  Margaret  b.  about  171 1.  m.  John  Geiger  about  1729,  may 

have  emigrated  to  America,     d.  ? 

7  Sarah  b.  171 2.     m.  John  Price  about  1735.     d.  ? 

It  is  probable  that  Persifor  farmed  the  land  on  which  he  dwelt  and 
suffered  the  usual  vicissitudes  of  fortune  which  in  Ireland  have  always 
attended  the  small  land  owner.  If  in  his  youth  he  was  the  reckless 
heir  apparent  to  a  Scottish  laird,  time  and  misfortune  had  chastened 
his  spirit  by  the  time  he  had  reached  his  seventieth  year,  his  age  at  the 
time  he  wrote  the  only  letter  which  has  been  preserved.  This  letter, 
written  to  his  son,  who  had  gone  to  America  two  years  and  a  half  be- 
fore, reveals  the  slender  means,  the  petty  misfortunes,  the  misplaced 
confidences,  the  familiar  family  and  neighbourhood  news,  of  one  whose 
horizon  was  narrow  and  whose  life  was  hard.  He  had  passed  the  period 
when  a  man  may  with  honor  retire  from  toil  and  leave  the  struggle 
for  existence  to  younger  hands;  but  there  was  no  rest  for  him  though 
every  note  of  his  existence  is  in  the  minor  key.  His  wife  and  he  are 
in  a  "weak  and  tender  condition";  Johnston  has  "noe  truth  in  him"; 
His  son's  horse  was  killed  by  a  car  man  (who  probably  hired  it)  and  no 


Pirsifor''  occurs.  But  with  the  boundless  capacity  for  typographical  and  other 
errors  which  is  characteristic  of  the  daily  press,  including  the  journal  named,  this 
indication  is,  by  itself,  of  little  value. 


indemnity  was  received  for  it ;  George  is  sorry ;  PersCarr — (thirty  years 
later  a  Sergt.of  the  48th  British  Regt.  in  America.  See  later) — is  a  very 
bad  boy ;  letters  sent  to  the  writer  had  miscarried ;  Keady  has  a.  melan- 
choly report  of  his  son;  The  writer  would  have  been  pretty  easy  but  for 
McCall's  (McCoUum's  (?))  debt;  Corry  owed  him  money  but  all 
Corry's  property  was  seized  by  neighbors  for  debt;  servants  cannot  be 
prevailed  upon  to  go  abroad.  The  letter  reads  like  the  lamentations 
of  Job,  and  is  filled  with  devout  expressions  of  submission  to  the  will  of 
God.  He  is  anxious  to  leave  the  place  and  embark  with  his  son  for  the 
new  land  of  promise ;  but  that  was  not  to  be.  After  this  sad  letter  the 
thread  of  his  history  is  cut  and  we  hear  nothing  further  from  him.  He 
died,  it  is  thought  about  1740. 


John  Frazer  XV-5.      b.  August  8,  1709 
d.  September  7,  1765 

John  Frazer  (original  immigrant),  was  the  fifth  child  of  Persifor  and 
Margaret  all  of  whom  were  probably  born  at  or  near  Glasslough  Ireland. 
As  will  be  seen  in  the  accompanying  table,  two  children  were  born  to 
his  parents  after  himself.  In  his  twenty  sixth  year  he  married  Mary 
daughter  and  fifth  child  of  Robert  and  Mary  (Douglass)  Smith,  who 
were  neighbors  of  the  Frazers  in  Glasslough. 

(See  genealogical  table  (Smith)  generations  XIV  and  XV  below.) 
What  may  have  been  John's  occupation  and  how  much  education  he 
may  have  received  during  the  twenty  six  years  prior  to  his  marriage 
must  be  conjectured.  It  may  be  assumed  without  much  chance  of 
error  that  he  assisted  his  Father  in  the  management  of  the  farm,  and 
it  can  be  accepted  with  still  greater  certainty  that  he  either  received 
more  instruction,  or  that  he  profited  by  what  he  received  to  a 
greater  extent  than  the  average  small  farmer's  son,  because 
upon  his  arrival  at  the  scene  of  his  life  work  he  immediately 
assumed  direction  of  various  enterprises  with  a  success  which  would 
have  been  very  unlikely  in  the  absence  of  such  preparation.  Family 
tradition  has  it  that  the  Smiths  were  opposed  to  the  marriage  of  their 
daughter  with  John  Frazer,  but  it  is  not  likely  that  this  opposition  was 
based  on  any  objection  to  the  bridegroom  personally,  for  he  appears 
to  have  been  a  young  man  of  industrious  and  exemplary  habits,  who 
preserved  the  respect  and  affection  of  his  sisters-in-law  and  Father-in- 
law  years  after  he  had  taken  away  his  wife,  their  kinswoman,  to  his 
distant  home.  Very  likely  her  parents  were  loath  to  have  the  ocean  be- 
tween them  and  their  daughter;  but  whatever  may  have  been  the  cause 
the  opposition  was  not  serious,  for  the  wedding  took  place  on  June  i6, 
and  the  couple  sailed  for  Philadelphia  on  June  28,  1735  arriving  at 
their  destination  exactly  three  months  later  (Sept.  28,  1735). 

It  was  not  difficult  to  understand  that  a  young  man  of  more  than  the 
average  education,  and  possessed  of  a  normal  amount  of  ambition  and 
desire  of  success,  would  seek  his  fortune  in  other  places  than  that  of 
which  a  passing  glimpse  is  given  in  his  Father's  letter.  Direction  was 
given  to  this  ambition  by  the  following  prospectus  printed  on  a  single 
sheet  y\"  x  gf "  which  is  among  the  family  papers. 


The  Proprietors  of  the  Pensilvania 
Land-Company  in  London,  do 
hereby  give  Notice, 
To  all  Persons  that  are  willing  to  Settle  upon  their  Lands  in  Pensil- 
vania, and  the  territories  thereunto  belonging, 
That  they  will  Give  to  Every  such  Person  or  Persons,  Fifty  Acres 
of  Land,  to  them  and  their  Heirs  for  ever,  Free  and  Clear  of  all  manner 
of  Quit-Rents ;  Ten  Families  to  Settle  together,  for  the  convenience  of 
Good  Neighbourhood,  in  every  Five  Thousand  Acres.     This  Encour- 
agement we  promise  to  Give  to  a  Hundred  Families ;  and  so  soon  as 
each  Family  have  Built  them  a  Cottage,  and  Cleared  Ten  Acres  of  Land, 
every  Family  so  Settling  shall  have  Deeds  executed  by  the  Trustees, 
and  sent  them  over  upon  a  Certificate  for  that  purpose,  first  obtained 
under  the  Hands  of  this  Company's  Agent  or  Agents,  Residing  in 
Pensilvania. 

(Written  on  the  lower  margin) 

"Samuel  Carpenter  and  Thos  fairman  are  the  Comp/as*  Agents." 


Their  first  home  was  at  Newtown  Newtownship,t  then  Chester 
(later  Delaware)  County  Pennsylvania.  It  was  not  uncommon  when  or- 
ganizing associations  in  England  for  settling  Pennsylvania  lands,  to  in- 
troduce a  clause  providing  that  for  every  certain  number  of  acres  of 
land  purchased  and  cleared,  the  settler  should  have  a  bonus  of  a  lot  or 
lots  in  the  town  to  be  built  in  the  neighborhood,  or  in  one  actually  ex- 
isting. This  applied  to  lots  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  and  indeed  the 
subject  of  these  lines  afterwards  moved  into  such  a  lot  in  Philadelphia 
in  a  district  which'  from  the  fact  that  it  was  reserved  for  the  use  of  a 
land  Society  of  this  kind  was  known  as  "Society  Hill".  This  hill  was 
located  near  what  is  now  Second  and  Pine  and  Lombard  Sts.  or  near 
the  mouth  of  Dock  Creek. 

What  employment  occupied  the  attention  of  the  new  settler  other 
than  that  of  clearing  the  land  he  had  purchased,  or  by  what  successive 
steps  he  advanced  from  a  settler  to  a  merchant  or  trader,  is  not  known, 
but  it  is  comforting  to  believe  that  the  change  of  continent  put  an  end 
to  the  monotonous  misfortune  of  which  his  father  seems  to  have  been 
a  victim  in  Ireland.  In  justice  to  the  elder  it  should  be  remembered 
that  his  age  and  state  of  health  very  probably  had  much  to  do  with  his 
gloomy  views  of  life.  John  removed  to  Philadelphia  certainly  before 
1759-  fof  ^  letter  is  addressed  to  him  there  in  the  latter  year  by  Wm. 
Crookshanks  his  brother-in-law,  and  in  the  address  of  which  John 

*Company;  (?) 

tNewtownship  was  laid  out  in  1685  and  its  "townstead  or  village"  now  called 
Newtown  Square  is  still  the  most  important  settlement  within  its  limits"  (Harris). 

8 


Frazer  is  designated  as  a  "Merchant".  He  was  engaged  in  connnerce 
by  sea,  notably  to  tlie  West  Indies,  and  is  thought  to  have  owned  in 
whole  or  in  part  the  vessels  employed  in  this  trade. 

A  John  Frazer  was  licensed  to  trade  with  Indians  August  1748  and 
Sept.  4.  1753  and  it  is  quite  probable  that  he  was  the  same  person  as 
the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

He  revisited  Ireland  at  least  twice  after  arriving  in  America :  the 
first  time  in  1737  and  later,  probably  in  1752.  (J.  S.  Harris  "The 
Frazer  family"  unpublished  Jan.  1905.).  Both  he  and  his  wife  died 
and  were  buried  in  Philadelphia. 

The  following  paper  belongs  by  date  more  nearly  to  the  period  at 
which  John  Frazer  arrived  in  America.  It  may  however,  have  been 
among  the  loose  and  miscellaneous  papers  always  to  be  found  in  a 
lawyer's  ofifice  and  still  more  frequently  in  that  of  a  Justice  of  the 
Peace  ;a  dignity  conferred  on  both  the  son  and  grandson  of  the  original 
immigrant. 


First 
\Vm.  Penn  Esqr.  by  Lease  and  Release  dated  i6th  and  17th  Sepr.  1681 
grants  and  conveys  to  Jno.  Thomas  and  Edw.  Jones  5000  Acres 

Second J.  T  and  E.  Jones,  by  Indenture  bearg.  date  ist  Apl.  1682 

promise  to  Assign  over  I56|-  Acres  to  Reese  Jno.  William 
Third  .  .  .  J  T:  and  E  Jones  by  In/re.  i8th  March  33  yr.  of  Cha/rs. 
2nd  promise  to  Assign  over  156^  Acres  to  Thos.  Prich- 
ard — 
4th.  Thos.  Pritchard  by  Inden/re.  i6th  July  1784.*  conveys  the  same  to 
Reese  John  William  by  the  name  of  Reese  John  late  of  Ireland. 
Reese  John  William  is  now  vested  in  both   tracts  a  Moiety  in 
Myrion,t  the  other  in  Goshen — 
5th.   Reese  Jno.  William  by  Will  dated  20th  11  Mo.  1697-8  devises  the 
land  in  Goshen  to  his  2d  son  Evan  Jones  and  his  3d  son  Jn/o. 

Jones 

6th.  John  Jones  gave  his  Share  in  Goshen  to  his  Brother  Evan  in  ex- 
change for  other  Lands,  but  no  deed  of  Conveyance  was  ever  made 
bcfzvccii  fhciii 
7th.  Evan  Jones  by  his  last  Will  and  Testament  dated  20th  ist  Mo. 
1708  and  therein  among  other  things  devised  as  follows.  "I  give 
and  bequeath  all  the  residue  and  remaindr.  of  my  Estate  Real  and 
personal  to  be  sold  by  my  Exec/rs.  Richard  Jones  and  Robert 
Lloyd"— 


♦1784  must  have  been  an  error  for  1684. 
fMerion. 


8tli.  Thos.  Lloyd  by  grant  from  I'roprietr,  obtains   156^    Acres  one 

half  in  Goshen  and  the  other  in  Myrionf 

9th.  Thos.  Lloyd  makes  his  will  bearing  date  as  therein  mentioned  and 

devises  his  Land  in  Goshen  to  Jno.  Roberts(Shoem/r)  by  virtue  of 

w/ch.  or  of  some  otherway  or  means  in  the  Law  the  sd.  John  Roberts 

became  seized  etc. 

loth.  John  Roberts.  Granted  but  never  yet  conveyed  the  same  to  Evan 

Jones  aforesaid 

nth.  By  Indenture  Quadri/te.  made  i6th  10.  Mo.  1710 — between  Ed- 
ward Jones  of  Myrion  etc/a.  and  Mary  his  wife,  Thomas  Jones  of 
Myrion  (son  and  heir  of  Jno.  Thomas)  and  of  his  wife  Ann,  Richd. 
Jones  eldest  son  and  heir  of  Reese  John  William,  eldest  Brother 
and  heir  at  law  of  Evan  Jones  second  son  of  Reese  John  William 
and  Jane  his  Wife  and  Robert  Lloyd  of  the  first  part  (the  sd.  Richd. 
Jones  and  Robert  Lloyd  being  E.xec/rs.  of  Evan  Jones  deed.) — 
John  Jones  third  son  of  Reese  John  William  of  the  second  part — 
John  Roberts  Shoem/r.  and  Mary  his  Wife  of  the  third  part — 
(The  said  John  Roberts  being  son  and  heir  of  Robert  Jones  and 
the  said  Robert  Jones  being  brother  and  heir  at  law  of  Thomas 
Lloyd— and  John  Haines  of  the  part  etca.  Signed  by  Edwd.  Jones. 
Mary  Jones— John  Jones — Robt.  Lloyd,  Richard  Jones — John 
Roberts  Mary  Roberts — 
NB :  254  Granted  by  this  deed — 360  survey'd  as  by  D  Powells  draft  of 
the  land. 

John  Haines  and  Esther  Haines  Assigns  as  follows  viz. 
To  all  People  to  whom  these  presents  shall  come  know  Ye  that  I  the 
within  named  John  Haines  for  divers  good  and  valuable  considerations 
as  well  as  for  the  natural  love  and  affection  I  bear  my  son  Isaac  Haines 
do  Assign  and  make  over  all  the  within  mentioned  254  Acres  of  Land 
etc/a.  and  do  by  these  presents  fully  absolutely  and  to  intents  and  pur- 
poses Assign  and  make  over  all  my  right  Title  Interest  property 
Claim  and  demand  whatsoever  unto  the  within  mention'd  254  Acres 
w/th  y/e  prem.  and  appurten/es  unto  him  the  said  Isaac  Haines  his 
Heirs  and  Assigns  for  ever  To  the  only  Use  and  l)ehoof  of  him  the  said 
Isaac  Haines  his  Heirs  and  Assigns  for  ever.  In  witness  whereof  I 
have  hereunto  set  my  Hand  and  Seal  this  30th.  May  171 7 — 
(no  Acknowledgment,  nor  proof  of  the  Execution.) 


Whatever  may  have  been  the  business  in  which  John  Frazer,  the 
original  immigrant  originally  engaged,  it  is  extremely  probable  that  he 
was  plunged  into  politics,  from  the  time  of  his  arrival  in  this  country, 


tMerion. 

10 


as  appears  by  a  copy  of  the  following  broadside  issued  just  a  week 
before  his  landing,  of  which  the  preservation  among  his  effects  is 
sufficient  indication  that  it  engaged  his  attention,  and  that  upon  its 
subject  he  probably  had  decided  views ;  though  what  they  were  is  not 
known. 

A  Letter  of  Caution 

To  The 

Electors 

of 

Pennsylvania. 

Conestogo,  20th  Sept.  1735. 
Dear  Friends, 

Although  our  great  Friend  and  honourable  Founder  has  settled  this 
Colony  under  a  Constitution,  which  not  only  deserves,  but  as  an  indis- 
pcnsible  Duty  to  ourselves  and  Neighbours,  requires  our  utmost  Atten- 
tion Care  and  Diligence,  to  Maintain  and  Preserve;  And  as  a  kind 
Parent  to  his  Children,  or  a  good  Patriot  to  his  Country,  he  has  given 
us  such  Rules  and  Directions,  as  may,  if  not  wanting  to  the  natural 
Duty  of  Self-preservation,  continue  to  us  and  our  Posterity,  the  Happi- 
ness he  intended  for  us  and  them.  But  as  the  Wantonness  and  Cor- 
ruption of  Men  and  Manners  have  in  all  Ages  necessarily  call'd  for  aid 
from  the  Senate  to  prevent  and  correct  Evils  and  Disorders  in  Society, 
which  at  once  no  human  Prudence  or  Invention  could  sufficiently  pro- 
vide against,  it  will,  as  long  as  that  race  continues,  be  found  necessary 
to  apply  fresh  Remedies  to  fresh  Diseases.  In  Speculation  it  seems 
incredible,  yet  in  Practice  it's  notorious,  That  Men  Act  against  the 
most  plain  Rules,  convictions  of  Conscience,  and  light  of  natural 
Reason,  even  in  a  Matter  of  the  greatest  Consequence  in  their  Tem- 
poral Concerns;  for  who  knows  not,  that  the  Trade,  Interest,  and  Wel- 
fare of  every  one  in  Pciuis\i:'aiiia  very  much  depend  upon  the  Cash  of 
the  Country  and  the  due  Administration  thereof;  and  that  the  Assem- 
bly is  the  only  Check  on  those  who  have  the  Custody  of  and  are  Ac- 
countable for  the  same?  What  Infatuation,  Madness,  or  lethargic  In- 
dolence, can  be  thought  to  seize  Men  when  by  their  own  Content  and 
Influence,  they  advance  and  chuse  those  Men  to  the  Seat  of  Justice  or 
Assembly,  who  are  the  very  Parties  with  whom  the  Public  have  this 
great  Concern  in  Dispute.  Is  it  not  against  the  Laws  of  God  and  Man, 
that  Men  should  sit  as  Judges  in  their  own  Causes?  Consult  but  the 
voice  of  Common  Sense  and  Natural  Reason,  and  you'll  clearly  appre- 
hend, that  nothing  comes  nearer  the  destruction  of  the  Constitution, 
than  the  conniving  at  or  promoting  such  monstrous  Heresy  in  Poli- 
ticks. How  easy  may  the  Possessor  of  a  large  Treasure  Act  the 
Banker,  and  accumulate  to  himself  immense  Sums,  and  therewith  Brilje 
the  Electors  and  Elected,  and  so  become  incontrolable,  and  subject  the 

ir 


Government  to  his  Arliitrar)-  Will :  View  well  tliis  scene  of  impending 
Danger,  and  consider,  if  without  liorror  and  amazement,  you  can  suf- 
fer your  Selves  or  Constitution  thus  to  be  exposed  to  Shivery  and 
Destruction,  and  what  odious  imputation  such  miseral)le  pohticians 
incur.  How  comes  the  Province  in  Debt  Three  or  Four  Thousand 
Pounds?  the  Pubhc  work  not  done?  or  how  came  it  you  have  not 
been  able  to  inspect  the  Public  Casli  for  some  Years  past?  \Vliy,  the 
Truth  is,  the  Parties  became  Judges  in  the  Dispute,  and  by  their 
Power  and  influence  were  too  Potent  to  be  controil'd  or  managed ; 
and  until  you  remove  the  Cause,  the  Effect  will  be  the  same,  but  worse 
the  longer  in  continuance.  Awake  then,  and  drive  away  the  Servile 
stupidity  or  Mercenary  views  that  prevent  our  free  and  honest  Elec- 
tions; and  do  not  dishonour  the  Country  by  chusing  Men  for  your 
Representatives  in  Assembly,  that  bear  Ofifices  incompatible  with  that 
weighty  Trust,  or  that  have  been  stigmatiz'd  with  any  Scandals  or 
Baseness,  either  in  Principles  or  Practice:  But  as  Pennsylvania  is 
stock'dwith  numbers  of  Men  of  Estates,  Sense,  Ability,  Honesty  and 
Integrity,  out  of  which  you  may  and  doubtless  will  Chuse  the  Repre- 
sentatives if  you  lay  aside  all  other  Motives  or  Considerations  save 
that  of  the  Public  Good,  by  which  onjy  you  can  be  called  honest  and 
free  Electors,  which  I  heartily  wish  you  may  ever  continue  to  be,  and 
that  you  and  your  Posterity  may  always  enjoy  inviolably  that  happy 
Constitution  which  the  flourishing  Colony  of  Pennsylvania  is  blessed 
with. 

Farewell 

Emanuel  Friend. 


Somewhat  out  of  their  chronological  sequence  are  introduced  here 
two  letters  which  were  among  the  papers  of  John  Frazer  but  on  which 
no  light  can  be  thrown  at  present.  The  first  appears  to  be  a  note 
written  by  the  Secretary  of  the  Old  Pretender  to  Lord  Kenmure 
(Kenmare  (?))  and  signed  by  the  soi  distant  James  HI  as  "James 
R."  dated  Albano  (an  Episcopal  city  on  the  Via  Appia  12  miles  S.E.  of 
Rome)  June  18.  1734,  without  designation  of  the  person  addressed 
save  by  an  endorsement  on  the  back  having  some  characteristics  in 
common  with  the  signature  (but  not  with  the  body  of  the  note)  and 
written  with  similar  ink,  as  follows : 

K.  —  Jas  Lettr 
To  L  K 

1733 
underneath  which  is  written  in  a  different  hand  and  in  different  ink 

"to  Lord  Kenmure" 
the  "33"  of  the  date  appears  to  have  been  written  over  two  strokes 

12 


rather  lower  than  the  "17,"  as  if  the  number  had  been  171 1.  The  let- 
ter expresses  appreciation  of  the  devotion  to  the  writer's  person  of  the 
addressee  and  commends  him  to  the  example  of  his  Father;  promising 
particular  marks  of  the  writer's  favor. 

It  is  evidently  a  genuine  letter  of  the  exiled  son  of  James  II, 
and  was  in  all  probability  intended  for  Sir  Nicholas  Browne  sec- 
ond Viscount  Kenmare  who  was  attainted  throughout  the  acts  of  his 
Father  Sir  Valentine  Browne  the  first  Viscount,  and  his  own,  for  un- 
swerving fidelity  to  King  James  II  and  his  legitimate  successor.  Sir 
Valentine  was  born  in  1737;  sworn  to  the  privy  council  of  Jas  II ;  was 
Colonel  in  his  army  and  created  Baron  of  Castlerosse  and  Viscount 
Kenmare  sul)sequently  to  the  abdication  of  his  master  in  1689.  His 
Lordship  forfeited  his  estate  through  his  loyalty  and  died  in  1694. 
His  son  Sir  Nicholas  was  an  Officer  of  rank  in  the  King's  service  and 
this  letter  was  addressed  to  liim.  He  shared  the  attainder  of  his 
Father  and  was  deprived  of  the  estates  during  his  life.  At  his  death 
in  1790  his  heir  and  successor  recovered  them. 

Albano.  June  i8th.  1734. 
I  cannot  but  take  very  kindly  of  you  the  zeal  and  duty  you 
express  for  me  in  your  letter  of  the  25th.  May,  and  hope  you 
will  yet  have  one  day  an  occasion  of  giving  me  further  marks  of 
them  in  your  Country's  and  my  Service,  You  cannot  follow  a 
better  example  than  that  your  Father  left  you,  the  signal 
proofs  he  gave  me  of  his  attachment  to  my  person  and  cause, 
and  what  he  sufferd  for  it,  can  never  be  forgot  by  me,  and  will 
be  the  strongest  inducement  to  me  to  give  you  particular  marks 
of  my  favor  and  kindness,  which  I  doubt  not  but  you  will  always 
deserve  by  continuing  in  your  present  sentiments  towards  me 

James  R. 
Endorsed     K. — Jas  Letter 
ToLK 

1734 
to  Lord  Kenmure 

The  second  letter  is  anonymous  and  also  unaddressed,  but  it  is  evi- 
dently also  from  James  and  not  his  son  Charles  Edward  who  were  liv- 
ing more  or  less  together  in  Rome.  He  alludes  to  his  determination 
not  to  repeat  the  errors  of  his  Father  (James  II)  as  to  intolerance  of 
religious  opinions,  and  also  to  his  own  age,  which  facts  preclude  the 
young  Pretender  as  the  author. 

It  is  interesting  to  note  his  mention  of  the  possibility  of  a  restora- 
tion without  the  help  of  foreign  powers.  The  persistence  in  the  ef- 
fort to  accomplish  which,  contrary  to  the  advice  of  his  best  advisers 
abroad,  and  later  of  his  supporters  the  Scottish  chiefs  to  whom  he  had 

13 


made  his  way,  was  the  cause  of  the  final  ruin  and  overthrow  of  Charles 
Edward  the  Young  Pretender. 

This  letter  seems  to  show  that  these  plans  had  been  discussed  be- 
tween Father  and  Son.  It  was  proljably  a  secret  document  of  which 
many  copies  were  made  and  distributed  in  the  United  Kingdoms  of 
Great  Britain  and  Ireland  by  Jacobite  agents.  But  how  it  found  its 
way  to  John  Frazer  in  America  is  entirely  conjectural  as  are  the  senti- 
ments he  may  have  entertained  toward  the  writer. 

May  5th  1740. 
Sir 

1  receivd  in  due  time  the  letter,  or  paper  written  by  your  freind 
in  March  last  with  another  short  paper  in  the  same  hand  that 
accompaneed  it ;  I  have  perused  both  w/t.  attention  and  Satisfac- 
tion, and  can  easely  remark  in  them  affund  of  experience  good 
sense  and  affection  for  our  Country  and  my  familly.  I  am 
no  wat  surprised,  that  my  Character  and  principles  shoud  be  so 
little  known  where  he  is,  neither  I  nor  my  Children  have  many 
occasions  of  declaring  our  sentiments,  T'is  true  we  make  no 
Secret  of  them;  But  those  who  may  be  acquainted  w/t.  them, 
are  but  too  often  under  necessity  of  Concealing  w/t  they  know 
on  Such  heads.  It  would  be  a  subject  of  just  Concern  to  me,  if 
any  who  profess  my  Religion,  should,  by  their  writting  or  dis- 
course have  given  ground  to  attribute  to  it,  ill  maxims;  so  Con- 
trary to  its  true  principles  as  those  mentioned  in  your  freinds 
letter,  and  if  any  of  my  welwishers  in  general,  declare  in  their 
conversations  for  Arbitrary  power,  they  arc  greatly  against  my 
sentiments  and  Interest.  As  for  those  who  are  brib'd  tools  to 
Support  the  present  Arbitrary  government,  surely  nobody  can 
Consider  them  as  my  freinds,  whatever  may  be  their  professions, 
but  these  are  unconveniencys  and  misfortunes,  for  which  I  can- 
not be  answerable,  and  to  which.  I  have  it  but  little  in  my  power 
to  putt  any  remedy  whille  the  Enemys  of  my  familly,  make  to 
be  sure,  the  most  of  every  thing  that  can  tend  to  our  Disad- 
vantage, and  can  do  it  without  restraint 

— It  is  therefore  no  wonder  that  I  should  be  so  misrepresented 
and  little  known ;  were  our  Conduct  in  the  city  of  Rome  put  in  a 
true  light  it  would  not  a  little  Contribute  to  disipate  the  ill 
grounded  fears  and  jealousys  of  many,  and  as  for  my  Sincerity 
in  what  I  may  promise  even  during  Exile  I  think  without  hav- 
ing recourse  to  my  present  Character  no  doubt  should  be  had 
on  that  head,  by  any  reasonable  man ;  who  will  rightly  Consider 
the  present  Situation  of  my  familly —  We  have  now  been  more 
than  fifty  years  out  of  our  Country  we  have  been  bred  and  have 

14 


lived  in  the  School  of  Adversity  unacquainted  with  flattery — 
and  power,  which  always  attend  Princes  on  the  Throne,  and 
equally  unacquainted  with  Certain  ambitious  views  which  are 
too  common  w/t.  them.  —  If  long  Experience  teaches  us  how 
little  we  may  depend  upon  the  freindship  of  foreign  powers 
(whatever  view  of  apresent  Interest  may  (have  formerly  or  may 
hereafter)  induce  them  to  undertake  in  our  favours.  Our 
restoration  no  doubt  would  be  much  more  agreeable  both  to 
our  Subjects  and  ourselves  were  it  to  be  brought  about  without 
any  foreign  assistance,  but  should  it  happen  that  any  foreign 
Power  Contribute  to  place  me  on  the  throne  it  might  be  Visible 
to  all  thinking  men  that  1  can  nether  hope  to  keep  it  nor  enjoy 
peace  and  happiness  upon  it  but  by  gaining  the  love  and  affec- 
tion of  my  Subjects.  I  am  far  from  aproving  the  mistakes  of 
former  reigns  I  see  and  feel  the  effects  of  them  and  should  be 
void  of  all  reflection  did  I  not  propose  to  avoid  them  with  the 
outmost  care  —  and  therefor  I  do  not  entertain  the  least 
thought  of  assuming  the  Government  on  the  footing  my  father 
left  it  —  I  am  fully  resolved  to  make  the  law  the  rule  of  my  Gov- 
ernment and  absolutly  disclaim  any  pretentions  to  a  dispens- 
ing power  I  am  Sensible  of  the  ruine  and  oppression  with  which 
our  Country  is  distressed,  many  may  make  the  greatest  part  of 
the  people  desirous  of  a  Change  att  any  Rate,  but  for  my  part  as 
naturall  and  as  just  as  it  is  for  me  to  desire  that  I  and  my 
familey  should  be  Restored  to  our  Just  and  lawfull  right,  I  am 
far  (att  my  age  especially)  from  desiring  that  should  happen  but 
upon  an  honourable  and  Solid  foundation,  cemented  by  a  mu- 
tuall  Confidence  betwixt  King  and  people  by  which  the  welfare 
and  happiness  of  Both  may  be  well  and  Effectually  Secured.  It 
is  manifest  that  not  only  justice,  but  even  the  Nation  requires 
my  Restoration,  because  I  can  never  have  a  Separate  interest 
from  that  of  my  Country  nor  any  hopes  of  peace  or  Tranquility 
for  myself  or  my  family  but  by  Consulting  the  affections  of  my 
people  and  having  only  in  View  Vein'  (?)  their  h-n  Honour 
and  happiness  — I  am  persuaded  there  are  many  persons  of 
great  Talents  and  merit  who  would  be  of  that  opinion  were  my 
true  sentiments  known  to  them,  tho  they  are  not  all  all  look'd 
upon  as  well  w'ishers  of  my  Cause  —  nither  can  I  wonder  that 
they  should  have  prejudices  against  me,  they  have  been  bred  up  in 
them  from  their  vouth  and  Constantly  Confirmed  in  them  by  all 
the  lives  artifices  Imaginable  but  I  hope  the  time  is  not  far  distant 
in  w/c.  they  will  See  things  in  a  true  light  and  if  they  lay  aside  all 
unjust  prejudices  against  me  and  lay  as  much  to  heart  as  I  do  the 
prosperity  and  happiness  of  our  Country.  I  make  no  doubt  we 

15 


shall  be  entirely  Satisfied  \v/t.  onanotlier.  Tis  fitt  your  frcind 
siioulfl  Icnow  that  I  have  liy  mc  a  draii^'lit  of  a  Declaration  wliicli 
there  has  never  hccn  any  occasion  to  pubhsli,  this  declaration 
was  drawn  in  Consequence  of  the  Sentiments  and  expressions 
in  this  letter 

It  Contains  a  generall  Indemnity  without  exception  for  all 
that  has  part  against  me  and  my  familly  —  A  Solemn  engage- 
ment to  maintain  the  Church  of  England  as  by  law  Established 
in  all  her  Rights  privelledges  possessions  and  immunitys 
whatsomever,  and  as  I  am  utterly  averse  to  all  animositys  and 
Persecutions  on  account  of  Religion  it  also  Contains  apromise 
to  grant  and  allow  a  Tolleration  to  all  Protestant  Dissenters. 
I  also  express  in  it  an  utter  aversion  to  the  Repealing  the 
Habeas  Corpus  Act  as  well  as  to  the  loading  my  Subjects  with 
unnecessary  taxes  or  raising  any  in  a  manner  burthensome  to 
them  and  especially  to  the  Introducing  foreign  Excesses,  and  all 
Such  Methodes  as  may  have  hitherto  been  devised  and  persued 
to  accjuire  Arbitrary  power  att  the  Expence  of  the  Liberty  and 
property  of  the  Subject  —  and  besides,  there  is  a  general 
article  of  my  readyness  to  Settle  all  that  may  relate  to  the  wel- 
fare and  happiness  of  the  Nation,  both  in  Civil  and  Eclesisticall 
matters  by  the  Sincere  advise  and  Concurance  of  a  free  Parli- 
ment  !"'■ 

I  infer  were  I  known  and  justice  done  my  sentiments  it 
would  (I  am  Convinced)  make  many  alter  their  present  way  of 
thinking  and  induce  them  toConcurc  in  measures  for  my  Restor- 
ation as  the  most  Effectuall  means  to  Restore  peace  and  happi- 
ness to  our  Country.  I  thank  God  I  am  without  Resentment 
against  anybody  I  shall  never  retain  any  memory  of  past  mis- 
takes and  shall  never  make  any  other  destinction  amongst  my 
Subjects  but  such  as  true  Merit  and  faithfull  Service  may 
Authorsce  and  require.  I  have  ever  the  greatest  abhorrence  to 
all  disimulation  and  will  Certainly  never  promise  any  thing 
during  my  Exile  but  what  I  shall  perform  after  my  Restora- 
tion. 

Endorsed  "The  Kings 

lett/r  fr.  Rome 
1740" 


16 


The  following  arc  deeds,  private  letters,  powers  of  attorneys,  polit- 
ical i)ul)lications,  and  descriptions  of  objects  and  papers  which  were 
among  the  effects  left  by  John  Frazer. 

May  17,  1736. 
Know  all  men  by  these  presents  that  I  Alexander  Smith  of  Clanickny 
In  y/e  parish  of  Donagh  Barrony  of  Truegh  County  of  Monaghan  and 
Kingdon  of  Ireland  do  by  these  presents  for  Myself  my  heirs  Ex/rs 
Adm/rs  Nominate  and  Constitute  authorize  and  appoint  my  Trusty  and 
well  beloved  friend  and  Brother  John  ffreazer  late  of  Tonyhamigin  in 
y/e  said  County  now  of 

In  his  Majesty  King  George's  Dominions  In  America  to  be  My 
LawfuU  Attorney  and  in  my  Name  to  Shue  for  and  recover  off  y/e 
within  named  Thomas  Johnsto(  )  the  within  mentioned  Sum  of  one 
pound  Seventeen  Shillings  and  Sixpence  Ste/r.  and  to  Shue  arrest  and 
Imprison  him  y/e  said  Thomas  Johnston  for  y/e  Said  Sum  if  need  be 
and  after  Shuing  arresting  and  Impriosoning  him  y/e  Said  Thomas 
Johnston  on  payment  of  Said  Sum  or  Securing  y/e  Same  to  be  paid  him 
y/e  Said  John  ffraezor  my  attorney  for  my  use  do  Impower  him  My 
said  att/ry.  to  discharge  and  release  him  y/e  said  Johnston  from  Said 
Debt  and  out  of  prisone  if  Confin'd  and  do  Every  other  reosanable  and 
Lawful!  account  or  accounts  thing  or  things  whatsoever  relating 
thereto  in  as  full  and  ample  a  manner  as  if  I  was  personally  present 
and  for  Your  So  Doing  This  Shall  be  your  Sufficient  Warrant  and 
Authority  — 

Given  Under  my  Hand  and  Scale  in  Said  County  the  Seventeenth 
day  of  May  one  Thousand  Seven  Hundred  and  Thirty  Six 
Signed  Sealled  and  Delivred  Allexr  Smith  seal 

In  presence  of  us 
Robert  Thompson 
William  Little 

The  above  named  Robert  Thompson  and  William  Little  Came  this 
day  before  me  and  made  oath  that  they  were  personally  present  and 
Did  See  the  above  named  Alexander  Smith  Duely  Signe  Seale  and 
Exicute  the  above  Instrument  of  writing  or  Letter  of  attorney  and 
that  the  names  Robt  Thompson  and  William  Little  thereto  Subscribed 
as  above  are  proper  hand  writings  of  the  sd.  Depon/ts 
Jurat  cor  nie  uno  magister  Extraord/y.  p  ^,^.,j.^^  kittle. 

Capt:one  affid/d.ruremet  pro  Com.  Monaghan    ^^^^^.^  Thompson 
virtute  Commission  Mihs  Direct  apud  ' 

Glasslough  in  Com  pld  17  Die  Mensis 
Mali  et  anno  Dom  1736  et  cognos.  Depont 

Will  Johnston 
Alexand/r  Smith  of  Clanickney  in  the  Parish  of  Donagh  County  of 

17 


Monaghan  and  Kingdom  of  Ireland  Gen.  aged  forty  four  years  or 
thereal)outs  came  this  day  before  me  and  made  Oath,  that  some  time 
in  or  about  y/e  mounth  of  augst  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and 
thirty  three,  he  this  Deponant  obtained  a  Bill  for  the  sum  off  one 
Pound  seventeen  Shillings  and  Sixpence  Ste/r.  with  a  penalty  of  y/e 
Double  Valine  from  Thomas  Johnston  Late  of  Gallanagh  in  y/e  parish 
of  Monaghan  and  County  aforesaid  and  under  his  hand  and  seal  and 
payable  to  this  Deponant  his  heirs  Ex/s.  Adm/s  or  assigns  in  a  few 
Days  after  the  possession  thereof.  But  Some  little  time  afterward  as 
this  Deponant  heard  and  believes  he  the  Said  Tho/s.  Johnston  went  pri- 
viately  out  of  this  Kingdom  and  transported  himself  to  some  part  of  His 
Majestic  King  Georges  Dominions  in  America  without  paying  him  this 
Deponant  Any  part  of  Said  Sum  nor  has  he  this  Deponant  or  Any  one 
for  him  received  any  part  of  Said  Sum'  as  yet  and  this  Deponant  fur- 
ther deposeth  that  in  the  month  of  October  following  the  perfection  of 
said  Bill  a  (fire  ?  )  accidentally  ki(ndled  ? )  brooke  out  on  this  De- 
ponants  Dwelling  house  in  Clonickney  afores,  which  Suddenly  Con- 
sumed Said  house  and  a  great  part  of  this  Deponants  goods  and  papers, 
and  that  y/e  said  Bill  was  Either  burnt  then  or  Lost  in  the  Hurry  So  as 
he  can't  find  it  since  or  heare  any  further  or  other  accompt  of  it,  not 
withstanding  he  has  made  diligent  Enquiry  for  y/e  same,  and  he  further 
Deposeth  that  John  Smith  of  Aghalaverty  in  Said  County  and  Thoma/s 
Smith  this  Deponants  Son  were  witnesses  to  Said  Bill  and  further  Saith 
not 

Alexr:  Smith 


Jurat  cor  me  uno  magister  Extroard. 
p  Captione  afifiet/t.  in  rure  in  et  p 
Com.  Monaghan  virtutc  commission  mili."; 
Direct  apud     Glasslough  in  Com.  ploilte 
17th  die  Mensis  May  Anno  Dom  :  1736 
et  Cognoss  Doponts. 

Will :  Johnston 


Clinickny  may  the  19th 

1737 
Dr,  and  onst  afTectiont  uncle 

With  whome  whilst  in  jreland  I  had  confort  and  greate  satis- 
fection ;  I  belive  never  was  uncle  and  nees  dearer  to  other  while  heare 
1  never  recaived  a  shy  look  from  you  nor  you  from  me.  nor  did  I  think 
their  was  ever  reason  for  it  and  though  we  weare  unfortunitly  sepper- 

18 


ated,  1  was  big  with  the  hopse  of  as  good  a  Coraspondance  as  posable 
But  to  my  great  Concern  I  find  it  otherways  what  The  reason  of  it 
may  be,  I  am  att  a  los  to  know  for  my  part  I  am  still  the  seam  as 
sincaere  a  frend  and  as  much  in  my  duty  to  you  both  as  ever  I  ashure 
you  I  never  mist  one  opertunity  of  writing  to  you  eving  since  you  have 
not  been  att  the  truble  to  give  me  your  service.  I  never  rcaived  a  line 
from  ither  of  you  since  we  parted  but  one  from  you  in  my  fathers 
Leter  which  I  answared  very  exactly  this  is  the  sixth  or  8th  I  have 
vvroate  to  you  I  know  of  too  you  mist  one  of  them  and  one  from 
my  father  and  one  from  your  sinceare  frend  went  in  a  vesell  that  was 
wracked  the  others  with  more  from  your  frends  went  with  Mr.  White 
who  I  supoase  never  went  to  that  contry  sine  the  rest  I  hope  you 
have  recaived  though  I  never  was  so  happy  as  get  the  answer  of  one  of 
them  I  cannot  think  How  mine  should  mis  cary  when  others  came  so 
seafe  I  think  I  may  say  without  presumpion,  I  was  as  well  Intiteled 
to  a  leter  from  you  as  any  but  your  parents  I  need  not  blame  my  ant 
seeing  you  have  been  so  unkind  though  I  am  consious  I  never  gave 
you  the  least  Reason  but  if  you  suppoase  any  I  can  forgive  you  Dr 
uncle  I  am  ver  much  concerned  to  heare  you  speak  so  cearelessly  of 
tomy  as  you  do  you  know  he  was  but  a  child  in  a  maner  when  he 
went  with  you  and  Left  very  much  to  the  care  of  you  and  my  dr  ant 
Whose  care  I  thought  should  not  have  been  wanting  Supose  she  had 
not  been  your  wife  I  do  declare  he  never  onest  complained  more 
than  of  the  distance  was  between  you  but  I  fair  itt  from  your  own 
leters  For  he  has  talked  much  of  both  your  cares  but  should  he  be 
gilty  of  any  ofence  I  think  it  would  not  be  willfully  but  you  know  he 
is  young  in  comparison  to  you  and  I  am  shure  he  is  affectionet  and  if 
there  has  been  any  mis  understanding  I  fain  hope  its  all  over  last 
yeare  I  had  great  hopes  of  seeing  you  onst  more  in  this  country  but 
your  last  leter  was  deth  to  them  yet  I  would  willingly  think  you 
should  be  beter  content  to  live  heare  Than  there  I  beg  jf  you  can 
think  it  proper  That  you  may  come  I  am  shure  yo(u)  woud  meet 
With  a  kind  recep(tio)n  x  x 

...  Id  ad  to  your  parents  days  and  .  .  (torn) ly  to  the  com- 
fort to  all  your  frends  a  espeacsily  to  mine 

I  have  no  news  att  presen(t)  I  think  wort(h)  your  notis  I  ad  no 
more  att  present  but  the  Lord  be  your  shild  in  a  straing  land  and  give 
you  grace  to  grow  and  live  together  as  heirs  of  the  greace  of  life  and 
that  you  may  walk  Befoare  him  with  a  perfect  hart  that  in  the  end 
you  may  know  in  whome  you  have  belived  Is  the  sincere  prayer  of 
your  most  affectionit  and  dutfull  neec  whilst  in  this  world 

Marg:tt  Smith 

Give  my  love  and  duty  to  my  uncle  Speer  and  ant      Margery 

19 


big^ers  gives  you  her  love  and  service  My  Father  Mother  and 
Brother  gives  you  both  their  love  and  service  nothing  in  this  life 
would  be  worse  to  my  mother  than  to  think  tlieare  should  be  a  misun- 
derstanding between  you  and  tomy  Alix  and  bctty  gives  thire  love 
and  duty  to  you  both 

To  Mr.  John  frazor  These 


The  following  is  a  letter  of  the  original  Persifor  referred  to  on 
page  5: 

Dy  dear  Son  this  day  being  the  iith  of  June  1737  I  recud 
yours  dated  desembr  36  and  am  glad  in  the  lord  that  hath  mercifuly 
spared  you  in  life  and  health  your  mother  and  I  are  yet  liueing  but  in 
a  weak  tender  condition  and  hath  been  much  oprest  in  pay 
McCollom's  debt  near  20  po'd  and  can  noe  way  remedy  myselfe  but  by 
taking  his  body  it  is  so  hard  upon  me  that  I  cannot  bear  it  I  will  defer 
proceeding  against  him  yet  for  som  reasons  John  prie  and  wife  is  in 
health  but  in  debt  Rebeca  Is  liueng  near  her  former  being  margry  in 
a  deplorable  condition  since  she  had  y/e  pox  y/e  too  younge  children 
dead  Jack  in  Glaslough  glower  Mally  with  me  hugh  Johnston  come 
back  yesterday  saing  he  will  — (torn) — setle  but  there  is  noe  truth  in 
him  allex  and  family  Is  well  Sarah  hath  a  young  daughter  Your 
wif's  pcoaple  are  all  well  James  Morrison  at  home  Your  hors  died 
with  a  carrman  noething  got  for  him  goarge  concerned  that  he  did 
atack  you  Nelly  in  count  Derry  pers  carr  a  auerry  bad  boy  mally 
comeing  back  from  mullangar  flaxseed  was  sould  in  newry  this  year 
at  thirty  shilling  pr  hoghead  allex  got  fifty  at  derry  for  what  thomas 
sent  flour  is  diferent  prices  in  y/e  year  barrel  staues  is  tenn  shillings  per 
hundred  which  I  beliue  is  the  readiest  mony  You  need  not  fear  as  for 
seed  and  flouer  at  ye  season  you  purpos  to  come  god  willing  will  be  a 
dull  articklc  until  spring. 

I  haue  writen  seuerall  letters,  that  I  fi"  find  you  haue  not  got  one 
cspesially  by  James  White  with  whom  I  sent  a  book  and  the  gospol  new 
creatur  was  with  me  in  agust  last  and  tould  me  he  lined  near  you  I 
haue  now  writ  with  Samuel  McMullan  of  loart  and  also  with  arsbol 
lees  of  Keady  who  was  Resolued  to  goe  but  haueing  a  mellancolly  Re- 
port of  his  son  I  know  not  if  he  will  but  he  will  send  the  letter  by  andrcw 
Lucky  if  this  comes  to  you  let  me  hear  if  young  lees  in  your  country  be 
well  if  you  can  before  you  come  yourselfe  god  spare  and  prosper  you 

20 


to  come  giue  my  love  and  best  Respects  to  mr.  Frazer  and  his  family 
I  p  ray  god  Reward  him  for  his  kindnes  to  you  which  I  take  as  don  to 
myselfe  I  am  glad  to  hear  by  thomses  letter  which  came  the  same  day 
with  yours  that  you  and  he  are  cordial  I  wish  you  may  continue  soe  to 
to  be  to  whom  we  give  our  loue  and  begge  god  may  bless  him  and  you 
and  yours  Persifor  Frazer 

if  god  be  pleased  to  lett  me  see  you  here  and  I  liuing  and  able  to 
goe  with  you  I  know  not  if  we  shah  part  the  Lord  giue  direction 
both  to  you  an  me  In  all  thing  tending  to  — (blot) —  his  glory  and  our 
comfort  in  tim  and  foreuer  Mrs.  Corry  Is  dead  Himselfe  at  Newry 
the  girle  with  her  grand  mother  the  boy  with  me  I  am  safe  with  him 
one  way  or  other  all  he  had  here  was  ceased  by  neighbours  for  debt 
a  good  tennant  in  his  place  I  would  have  been  pretty  easy  but  for  muC'alls' 
debt  I  shall  have  trouble  to  come  at  any  of  my  own,  if  att  all  I  can  not 
bear  the  loss  if  posable  I  can  help  it  as  for  seruants  I  can  not  preuail 
with  any  to  bind  themselues  to  goe  abroad  as  for  hats  they  are  pro- 
hibited noe  master  of  a  ship  will  admit  ,m  a  board  to  his  knowledge 
whatsoeuor  a  man  might  doe  goeing  himselfe  lam  told  by  carpenters.  + 
oak  boards  inch  thicke  Is  worth  threepence  pr  foot  as  for  wallnutt  ther 
Is  noe  such  thing  made  use  In  this  part  of  y/e  country  wherefore  noe 
workman  here  knoweth  the  pr  — (torn) —  thereof  wherefore  if  it  pleas 
god  to  spare  and  prosper  you  to  come  bring  staues  and  flaxseed  are  of 
use  in  comom  which  I  belieue  Is  y/e  Readest  money  as  for  flouer  there 
Is  a  prospect  of  a  plentifull  crope  this  year  the  Loard  direct  to  what  Is 
most  for  his  glory  and  the  good  of  your  soule  and  body  your  mother 
hath  prouided  cloath  to  make  you  cloase  who  Joyns  with  me  in 
prayer  to  god  for  his  blesing  to  and  family 

PersiFor  Frazer 

for  John  Frazer  at  Newton  and  Newtownship 
in  penseluenia  in  america  —  or  to  be  Left  at 
the  post  ofice  in  filladelfia     these 

— (torn)aze(torn) — 


21 


Advertisement. 

PURSUANT  TO  THE  DIRECTIONS  IN  AN  ACT  OF  GEN- 
ERAL. Assembly  of  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania,  laying  an  Excise 
of  Four  Pence  per  Gallon  on  all  Wine,  Rum,  Brandy,  and  other 
spirits  retailed  therein. 

PUBLICK  NOTICE  IS  HEREBY  GIVEN  TO  ALL  Retailers 
and  others  who  intend  to  retail  any  of  the  Liquors  above-men- 
tioned ;  That  is  to  say,  such  Traders  or  Retailers  who  shall  after 
the  1st  of  September  ensuing,  Sell,  or  intend  to  Sell  or  Barter 
Wine  in  less  quantity  than  one  Hogshead,  delivered  to  one  Person 
at  one  Time :  And  in  Rum  and  other  Spirits  in  less  quantity  than 
Seventy  Gallons  delivered  in  Manner  aforesaid ;  that  such  Re- 
tailers, and  every  of  them,  immediately  upon  the  Commencement 
of  the  abovesaid  Act  (which  will  be  on  the  ist  of  September  ensu- 
ing) enter  their  respective  Names  and  Places  of  abode,  together 
with  an  Account  of  the  quantity  of  the  Exciseable  Liquors  at  that 
Time  in  their  Possession ;  as  also  the  Marks  and  Numbers  of  the 
Vessel  or  Vessels  wherein  the  same  is  contained. 
AND  that  from  and  after  such  Entry  (which  is  to  be  made  upon 
Oath  or  Affirmation)  no  Retailer  take  into  Store,  any  Cask  or 
quantity  of  Liquor  as  aforesaid,  before  Entry  made  thereof  as 
aforesaid,  and  of  whom  the  same  was  bought,  under  the  Penalty 
of  Forfeiting  the  said  Liquor. 

THAT  every  Retailer  render  an  Account  once  in  every  three 
Months  (without  any  further  Notice  than  is  herein  given)  or 
oftner  if  required,  of  all  such  Wine,  Rum,  Brandy  and  other  Spir- 
its, which  he,  she  or  they  have  retailed  within  that  Time,  and  then 
pay  the  Excise  on  the  same,  under  the  Penalty  of  Forfeiting,  for 
the  first  neglect  or  refusal,  Forty  Shillings,  and  for  the  second 
Offence  Fii'e  Founds,  and  have  their  Permit  or  License  taken 
away  and  rendered  uncapable  of  Selling  any  of  the  Liquors  afore- 
said, during  the  Continuance  of  this  Act. 

IT  is  further  Provided  also.  That  whoever  shall  retail  l)y  less 
quantities  than  one  Quart  of  any  Liquors  above-mentioned  (with- 
out the  Governor's  License  for  so  doing)  are  subject  to  a  fine  of 
Five  Pounds,  over  and  above  the  Excise  for  all  such  Liquors  so 
retailed  by  them,  etc 

AND  it  is  therein  further  enacted.  That  no  Person  who  is  in 
Arrears  for  Excise,  be  permitted  for  the  future  to  retail,  until  such 
Time  as  they  discharge  what  they  are  indebted  thereon. 

AND  that  if  any  Person  do.  Draw,  Sell  or  Barter,  any  Liquors 
aforesaid,  without  having  first  Entred  as  aforesaid,  every  such 
Person  Forfeits  Five  Pounds  over  and  above  the  Duty  as  afore- 

22 


said.  And  lastly,  Tliat  the  Constables  of  the  several  Districts 
of  this  County,  are  strictly  enjoined  under  the  Penalty  of  Tzi.'ciity 
Shilliiigs  to  return  the  Names  of  all  Retailers  in  their  respective 
Districts  to  the  Court  of  Quarter  Scssio)is,  and  to  be  aiding  and 
assisting  in  detecting  of  Frauds  and  abuses  committed  contrary  to 
the  true  intent  and  meaning  of  the  above-said  Act. 

THOMAS  CUMMINGS,  COLLECTOR. 
Dated  at  Chester,  the  29th 
Day  of  August,  1738. 


A  quaint  little  almanac  (4^"  x  64")  for  1837,  lacking  the  covers  but 
otherwise  complete,  bears  the  names  of  various  members  of  the  Taylor 
family  and  probably  came  into  possession  of  the  Frazers  in  the  gen- 
eration following  John's,  but  it  gives  one  an  idea  of  the  subjects  which 
most  interested  the  new  comer  to  America.  In  the  lines  of  heroic 
verse  which  conclude  each  page  and  are  accomodated  to  the  space  left 
vacant  after  the  calendar  and  astronomical  notes  are  printed,  many  in- 
teresting things  occur.  Thus,  under  January  the  reader  is  warned 
against  keeping  alive  the  political  animosities  of  King  Charles'  time. 
Under  February  the  tragic  massacre  of  Christians  by  the  Japanese 
King  Combo  is  recounted.  Under  April  is  a  curious  chronology  of 
creation  "5700  years  since  Heaven  and  Earth  from  nothing  came"  etc. 
An  advertisement  leaflet,  also  4^"  x  6  j"  is  as  follows. 


Advertisement. 

Province  of  Penn-       Notice  is  hereby  given  to  all  Persons,  who 
,        •  are  mdebted  to  the  Honourable  the  Proprie- 

^  taries,  for  Quit.  Rent  due  on  the  Lands  they 

hold  in  the  said  Province,  and  for  Lots  of  Ground  within  the  City 
of  PliUadclpliia:  That  they  provide  to  pay  off  the  same  in  the  next 
Month  (March;)  for  collecting  whereof  the  Receiver-General  will 
attend  at  his  Office  in  Philadelphia,  from  the  First  Day  of  the  said 
Month  to  the  12th,  for  receiving  those  of  the  County  and  City  of 
Philadclpliia.  At  Lancaster,  for  the  County  of  Lancaster.  Attend- 
ance will  be  given  from  the  14th  to  the  17th  Day  inclusive. 
At  Chester  from  the  21st  Day  to  the  24th  inclusive.  And  at 
Pensbury  in  the  County  of  Bucks,  from  the  27th  to  the  31st  in- 
clusive- of  the  same  Month.  At  which  respective  Times  and 
Places,  all  Persons  who  are  indebted  as  aforesaid,  are  required 
without  further  Delay  to  pay  the  same,  otherwise  they  may  expect 
to  be  proceeded  against  as  the  Law  directs. 
James  Steel,  Rec.  Gen. 
Philadelphia,  the  8th  of  the 

1 2th  Month,  February,  17:^8,9 

23 


Leaf  from  family  Bible  of  John  Frazer  (XV-5) 

The  Last  gift  of  persifor 
frazer  to  his  son  John  frazer 

Persifor  frazer  Jun/r  was  Born  the  9th  of  August  1736 
Robert  frazer  was  born  the  21st  of  July  being  on 
friday  about  eight  of  the  Clock  in  the  morning  1738. 
John  frazer  was  born  the  9th  of  Octo/r  1740 — 
and  Dyed  on  monday  morning  the  30th.  of  aug/t.  1741  — 
John  frazer  2/d  was  born  July  y/e  31  and  dyed  Septemb/r 
Seventh  1742  — 

Mary  Frazer  was  Born  the  4/th  fourth  of  October  1744 
and  dyed  the  25th  of  July  1746 
Elizabeth  frazer  was  I3orn  the  9th.  of  July  1747 
and  Dyed  October  the  9th 
Thomas  frazer  was  born  the  23/d  of 
September  about  four  oClock  on  friday 
morning  1748  aud  departed  this  life 
on  Tuesday  the  tzvelfth  of  December  1749  about 
Forty  minutes  after  tivelve  o'clock  in  the  day 
Sarah  Frazer  was  Born  October  i8/th.  1750 
Meary  frazer  was  born  May  the  30th 
Wednesday  morning  1753  &  De(pa)rted  th's  life  — (torn) 
the  8th.  day  of  Oct  (torn)  i754 

Anne  Frazer  was  born  September  4th,  1755,  married  to  Josliua  Vernon  1776, 
who  died  about  March  1798. 

The  page  on  which  the  entries  occur  is  about  8%  x  6%  inches  and  ragged  on 
every  side.  The  first  two  lines  of  dedication  are  written  in  a  very  large  hand  with 
many  flourishes  but  apparently  by  the  same  hand  which  wrote  all  the  entries  ex- 
cepting part  of  the  i6th  and  the  17th  and  i8th  lines  as  noted  below.  The  words  in 
italics  are  in  a  different  handwriting  and  with  paler  ink. 

The  words  and  figures  in  small  text  are  added  from  a  leaf  of  the  family  Bible  of 
Robert  Frazer  (XVII-2)  which  is  headed  "Copy  of  a  leaf  of  the  Bible  of  John  Fra- 
zer." The  words  supplied,  as  far  as  the  date  of  birth  of  Anne,  may  have  been  in 
the  original  but  are  now  missing.  The  date  of  the  marriage  of  Anne  must  have  been 
added  by  Robert  or  his  Father,  and  that  of  the  death  of  her  husband  by  Rofbert  him- 
self. 


24 


ADVERTISEMENT. 

p       .  r  p  In  Pursuance  of  an  Act  of  the  General  Asseni- 

rrovince  ot  I  enn-     ^,y  ^^  ^j^j^  Province,  made  in  the  fourth  Year 

sylvania,  ss.  ^j  ^^^  p^^j^j^  ^^  ^,^g  j^^^  q^^^^^  ANNE,  for  the 

more  easy  effectual  Collecting  of  Quit-Rents,  due  to  the  Hon- 
ourable the  Proprietaries  within  the  said  Province.  Publick  No- 
tice is  hereby  given  that  the  Receiver-General  will  attend  at  his 
Ofifice  in  the  City  of  Philadelphia,  from  the  2d  Day  of  the  next 
Month  (March)  to  the  7th  inclusive,  for  receiving  the  Quit-Rents 
due  the  City  and  County  of  Philadelphia.  At  Chester  for  the 
County  of  Chester,  from  the  9th  Day  to  the  14th  inclusive.  (At 
the  Town  of  Lancaster,  for  the  County  of  Lancaster,  attendance 
will  be  given  by  Thomas  Cookson  Esq ;  who  is  authorized  for  that 
Purpose,  from  the  17th  to  the  21st.)  And  at  Pennsbury  in  the 
County  of  Bcuhs,  from  the  23d  to  the  28th  of  the  same  Month. 
At  which  respective  Times  and  Places,  all  Persons  concerned  are 
required  to  appear  and  pay  their  respective  Rents. 

AND  WHEREAS  notwithstanding  the  like  Advertisements 
which  have  been  published  every  Year,  pursuant  to  the  above  re- 
cited Act  of  Assembly,  the  People  who  hold  Lands  or  Lots  within 
the  said  Province,  have  greatly  neglected  their  Duty  in  not  ap- 
pearing at  the  Times  and  Places  therein  appointed  to  pay  their  re- 
spective Quit-Rents:  They  are  therefore  to  take  Notice,  that 
upon  their  further  Neglect,  Distress  will  be  made  on  the  Premises 
charged  with  such  Quit-Rents,  whether  one  Year  or  more  be  in 
Arrear,  and  the  Effects  or  Premises  thereupon  taken  will  be  Sold 
according  as  the  Law  directs. 


Philadelphia,  the  loth  of  the 
12  Month  (February)  1 740-1. 


J.  Steel,  Rec.  Gen. 


NOTICE  is  hereby  given  To  all  Persons  whom  it  may  concern. 
That  the  Honourable  GEORGE  THOMAS,  Esq;  Lieutenant 
Governor  of  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania,  and  Counties  of  Nezv- 
Castle,  Kent  and  Sussex  on  Delaivarc  is  fully  Impowered  by  the 

25 


Honourable  the  PROPRIETARIES,  as  well  to  confirm  all  Con- 
tracts heretofore  made  for  the  Sale  of  any  Lands  within  the  said 
Province,  and  Counties,  as  also  to  sell  and  grant  any  vacant 
Lands  within  the  same  THEREFORE  all  Persons,  who  have 
already  contracted,  or  are  desirous  to  contract  for  any  such 
Lands,  may  apply  themselves  to  the  LAND  OFFICE  in  Phila- 
delphia, as  hath  heretofore  been  usual:  And  those,  who  have 
already  made  any  such  Contracts  and  not  fulfilled  the  same,  are 
admonished  to  apply  and  complete  their  respective  Agreements. 
Philadelphia  By  the  Governor's  Command, 

2ist.  Sept.   1741  RICHARD  PETERS,  Seer. 

This  leaf  is  surmounted  by  the  Arms  of  Wm.  Perm. 


TO 

THE  FREE-HOLDERS 

Of  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania. 

Friends  and  Countrymen, 
As  the  Time  approaches  for  chusing  Representatives  in  the  CcHC/a/- 
Asseinbly  for  the  ensuing  Year,  it  behoves  every  Man,  that  wishes 
his  Country's  Prosperity,  to  exert  his  utmost  Endeavours  to  put  an 
End  to  the  Dissentions  which  have  been  industriously  fomented 
by  some  amongst  us ;  who,  under  the  pretence  of  Zeal  for  the  pub- 
lick  Good,  have  too  much  indulged  their  own  Passions,  and  have 
brought  all  into  Confusion.  It  is  Criminal  under  these  unhappy 
Circumstances  to  be  Silent ;  it  is  Criminal  to  be  Neutral  and  Un- 
concerned.—  Let  us  banish  therefore  all  Prejudice  and  Partiallity : 
Let  us  shut  our  Ears  against  Calumny  and  Detraction,  and  re- 
solve to  restore  Peace  to  our  Country,  and  Peace  will  be  restored. 
The  Governor  has  declared,  in  his  Message  to  the  last  Assembly, 
That  he  desires  Peace,  and  he  publickly  declares,  That  he  zvill  not 
leave  the  Province  till  this  good  Work  is  effected.  He  has  promised, 
if  just  and  equitable  Measures  are  taken  to  restore  Peace,  he  will 
pass  all  the  laws  that  shall  be  presented  to  him  for  the  Benefit  of  the 
Country,  and  desires  that  all  former  Differences  may  be  buried  in 
Oblivion.  It  matters  not  who  has  been  right  or  who  has  been 
wrong  in  the  late  unhappy  Disputes.  The  Question  is  now. 
Whether  zcf  shall  restore  Peace  to  the  Province,  in,  which  our  Happi- 
ness and  the  Reputation  of  our  Country  is  so  immediately  con- 
cerned? 

The  Enemies  to  the  Publick  Welfare,  not  satisfied  with  having 
already  brought  our  Affairs  under  the  greatest  Distresses,  are 
still  blowing  the  Coals.     The  Gratification  of  their  private  Re- 

26 


sentments  prevails  with  them  over  all  other  Considerations. — 
Where  must  these  Distractions  End?  Can  they  possibly  be  the 
Means  of  any  good  to  us? —  We  are  already  too  sensible  to  the  ill 
Effects  of  them.  The  five  Pound  Act,  which  was  so  beneficial  to 
us,  is  expired.  The  Act  for  chtising  Inspectors,  which  is  so  neces- 
sary to  prevent  Tumults  and  preserve  the  Freedom  of  our  Elec- 
tions, is  expired,  and  others  of  as  great  Importance  to  the  Publick, 
will  expire  next  Year.  The  Tenth  of  October  next  will  put  an  End 
to  the  Trustees  of  the  Loan-OfUce,  so  that  should  the  Disagreement 
between  the  Governor  and  Assembly  continue,  there  will  be  no 
Trustees  legally  empower'd  to  lend  out  the  Publick  Money,  to 
such  of  the  industrious  Inhabitants  as  may  stand  in  need  of  it  for 
the  improvement  of  their  Lands,  nor  to  receive  the  Interest 
Money  for  defraying  the  anual  Expences  of  the  Province.  This 
will  not  only  hurt  the  Credit  of  our  Paper  Money,  which  has  been 
so  beneficial  to  us,  but  bring  us  under  the  Burthen  of  a  Provincial 
Tax ;  nor  can  wc  have  any  hopes  to  see  our  drooping  Trade  revive, 
by  a  further  Addition  to  our  Currency,  which,  as  our  Inhabitants 
have  of  late  greatly  increased,  is  thought  by  many  to  be  very  nec- 
essary.—  These  are  Matters  worthy  of  our  strictest  Attention  at 
all  Times,  but  more  especially  now,  since  upwards  of  Ten  Thousand 
Pounds  of  the  Publick  Money  has  been  squandered  away,  and  we 
are  run  four  Thousand  Pounds  in  Debt.—  Under  these  Circum- 
stances, is  it  not  absolutely  necessary  that  the  publick  Accounts 
should  be  strictly  examined  into?  We  have  a  right  to  know  how 
the  publick  Money  has  been  disposed  of,  and  the  late  Members  of 
Assembly  cannot  but  know  we  have,  and  yet  they  have  hitherto 
concealed  those  Accounts  from  us,  in  hopes  by  this  Means  to  pre- 
vent a  publick  Detection  of  their  Mismanagement,  if  it  may  not 
deserve  a  worse  Name,  till  it  will  be  too  late  for  us  to  shew  a 
proper  resentment.  If  all  was  fair,  why  were  not  their  Minutes 
published  immediately  after  their  last  Adjournment?  Why  is  the 
Publication  artfully  deferr'd  till  they  have  taken  their  Measures 
for  getting  themselves  re-elected? 

These  Enemies  to  the  publick  Peace  are  now  so  artful  as  to 
cover  their  real  Designs,  under  a  pretence  of  Zeal  for  the  publick 
Good,  They  endeavor  to  alarm  us  with  Designs  upon  our  Liber- 
ties, and  terrify  us  with  the  Severities  of  a  Militia  Law;  and  thus 
will  they  blacken  the  Actions  of  every  Man  that  opposes  them,  by 
calling  that  an  Invasion  of  our  religious  and  civil  Rights,  which 
would  have  been  necessary  in  Case  of  a  War  with  France,  for  the 
security  of  our  Wives,  our  Children  and  our  Properties.  But  it  is 
hoped  the  Free  men  of  Pennsylvania  will  not  suffer  themselves  to 
be  so  deluded,  that  they  will  not  be  deceived  by  false  colourings 

27 


and  bad  Names;  but  will  examine  Matters  to  tbe  Bottom,  and  as  it 
is  now  in  their  Power,  restore  Peace  to  their  suffering  Country. 

A  Militia,  it  is  true,  was  proposed  by  the  Governor  near  three 
Years  ago,  upon  the  first  breaking  out  of  the  War  with  Spain,  and 
when  a  War  with  France  was  daily  apprehended,  with  an  express 
Offer  of  Indulgence  to  Persons  conscientiously  persuaded  against 
bearing  Arms.  But  the  Governor  has  not  pressed  it  since,  and  as 
we  have  no  Hopes  of  a  general  Peace  in  Europe,  that  Matter  is 
quite  out  of  the  present  Question.  It  is  true  likewise,  that  a  con- 
siderable Number  of  the  Inhabitants  petition'd  the  King,  that  the 
Province  might  be  put  in  a  posture  of  Defence  in  Case  of  a  War 
with  Prance.  But  this  was  so  far  from  being  an  Injury  to  us,  that 
it  was  the  means  of  preventing  many  from  removing  their  Fami- 
lies and  Effects  to  other  Places  of  more  safety;  which  if  they  had 
done,  the  Trade  of  the  Country  must  have  declined  much  more 
than  it  has  done.  It  is  to  be  fear'd  however,  that  the  insecurity  of 
Mens  Properties,  and  the  confining  our  Confidence  to  one  particu- 
lar set  of  Men,  with  an  apparent  disregard  and  distrust  of  all 
others  (tho'  some  of  them  had  served  the  Publick  faithfully  in 
former  Assembly's)  may  have  sowered  the  Minds  of  many,  and 
may  be  one  reason  for  the  discouragement  of  Building,  the  decline 
of  Trade,  and  the  low  Price  of  all  our  Country  Produce,  when 
compared  with  our  Neighbours.  Let  us  consider  seriously  with 
ourselves,  can  the  Governor's  having  proposed  a  Militia  Law  near 
three  (years?)  ago,  when  Danger  was  apprehended,  be  a  Reason 
for  confining  our  Choice  at  this  Time  to  a  particular  Set  of  Men, 
who  have  squander'd  away  the  i)ublick  Money  and  involved  us  in 
such  a  Scene  of  Contention.,  as  every  considering  Man  cannot  but 
see  must  End  fatally  to  us?  No,  it  is  plain  that  this  Dispute  is 
artfully  revived  by  the  Enemies  of  our  Peace,  to  pr.ocure  them- 
selves to  be  reelected. 

If  these  men  had  nothing  else  in  View  but  the  good  of  their 
Country,  they  would  not  have  recourse  to  falsehood  to  get  them- 
selves returned  into  the  next  Assembly.  A  good  Intention 
stands  in  need  of  no  such  ill  Practices.  They  would  not  have 
publish'd  false  Reports  of  the  Ne7v-Castle  Militia  Act,  or  of  the  In- 
habitants Petition  to  the  King.  They  would  not  have  publish'd 
false  Accounts  of  Severity's  exercised  in  the  lower  Counties  upon 
such  as  are  principled  against  bearing  Arms.  All  such  are  ex- 
empted from  bearing  Arms  upon  their  producing  a  Certi- 
ficate of  their  being  Quakers,  and  the  other  Inhabitants  of 
those  Counties  are  so  far  from  complaining  of  that  Law,  that  it  is 
universally  acknowledg'd  by  them,  to  have  been  contrived  with  the 
greatest  Regard  to  their  Ease :  Besides  the  continuance  of  that 

28 


Law  is  limitted  to  the  War;  for  so  soon  as  the  War  shall  end,  the 
Law  will  expire. —  Are  not  these  flagrant  Instances  of  an  imbit- 
ter'd  Spirit,  and  of  a  determined  Resolution  to  hew  down  Truth 
and  every  Thing  else  that  stands  in  the  Way  of  their  Designs? 

It  wou'd  be  a  severe  Reflection  upon,  and  the  highest  prejudice 
to,  the  Inhabitants  of  this  Province,  to  suppose  that  the  late  Mem- 
bers are  the  only  Men  fit  to  represent  us  in  Assembly.  Are  there 
not  Numbers  amongst  us  of  Knowledge,  at  least,  equal  to  these? 
Are  there  not  Numbers  of  equal  Probity?  Are  there  not  Num- 
bers of  approved  Fidelity  and  Zeal  for  the  Liberties  of  the  People? 
Can  it  be  supposed,  that  such  will  wantonly  make  Shipwreck  of  our 
Liberties,  and  consent  at  the  same  time  to  enslave  themselves  and 
their  Posterity?  What  temptation  can  a  Governor  throw  in 
their  way  great  enough  to  engage  them  in  such  a  Crime?  Our 
late  Representatives  have  brought  all  into  Confusion,  and  have 
drank  too  deep  of  the  Cup  of  Bitterness  to  be  proper  Instruments 
for  healing  our  unhappy  Divisions.  A  Country  divided  against 
itself  must  be  ruined.  If  therefore  we  have  any  Regard  for  our 
Country,  if  we  have  any  Regard  for  our  own  Peace  or  for  our 
Reputation  abroad,  let  our  Choice  fall  upon  such  as  are  most  likely 
to  reconcile  our  Differences.  Do  but  resolve  upon  Peace  and 
there  will  be  Peace.  Our  Laws  will  be  renewed,  the  Credit  of 
our  Paper  Money  will  be  preserved,  and  our  Trade  will  be  restored 
to  its  former  flourishing  Condition.  On  the  Contrary,  if  these 
unhappy  Differences  subsist  much  longer  amongst  us,  one  rnay, 
without  a  Spirit  of  Prophecy,  pronounce  our  excellent  Constitu- 
tion will  soon  be  at  an  End. 

Endorsed         against  the  Election  of  1742 


29 


To  the  FREEHOLDERS  of  the  Trovince 
of  J'ciiiisxlz'aiiia. 

GENTLEMEN, 

The  Government  of  this  Province,  with  the  Territories  belong- 
ing to  it,  was  at  its  first  Settlement  in  1682,  and  for  about  Twenty 
six  years  afterwards,  compounded  of  a  Provincial  Council  and 
Assembly,  both  of  which  were  chosen  by  the  Peogle  the  former 
had  the  Power  to  prepare  and  propose  the  Bills,  and  the  latter  to 
judge  of  their  fitness,  and  pass  them  into  Laws.  Tho'  the  Gov- 
ernor presided  in  the  Provincial  Council,  yet  he  was  restrained,  by 
his  own  voluntary  Agreement,  from  medling  with,  or  doing  any 
Act  whatsoever  relating  to  the  JUSTICE,  TRADE,  TREASURY 
or  SAFETY  of  the  Province  without  their  Consent.  Neither 
could  he  commission  any  Persons  to  serve  for  Judges  or  Masters 
of  the  Rolls,  nor  consequently  for  Prothonataries  or  other  Officers 
for  the  Custody  of  the  Records,  but  such  as  the  Provincial  Council 
should  present  to  him.  And  the  Assembly  in  like  Manner  were  to 
present  the  Persons  to  serve  for  Sheriffs,  Justices  of  the  Peace, 
and  Coroners.  Thus  the  making  of  the  Laws,  which  is  called  the 
Legislative  Power,  and  the  putting  the  Laws  in  Execution,  which 
is  called  the  Executive  Power,  were  entirely,  lodged  in  such  Per- 
sons as  the  People  should  annually  appoint. 

At  present  the  whole  Executive  Power,  except  the  Sheriffs  and 
Coroners,  is  vested  in  the  Governor.  He  not  only  nominates  the 
Judges  in  all  the  Courts  of  Common-Pleas,  and  encreases,  their 
Number  when  and  as  often  as  he  pleases,  but  as  we  are  told  by  the 
Proprietaries,  lie  can  turn  thou  out  when  he  thi>iks  fit.  He  has  the 
same  Power  over  the  Judges  of  the  Supreme-Court,  only  that 
their  Number  is  limited  by  an  Act  of  Assembly.  And  as  no  Bills 
can  pass  into  Laws  without  his  Approbation,  the  People  have  now 
no  other  Share  left  in  the  Government  than  to  prepare  them,  by 
their  Delegates,  for  his  Assent. 

Such  great  Incroachment  on  the  natural  Rights  and  Liberties 
of  the  People  could  never  have  been  made  if  their  Representatives 
had  not  given  their  Consent.  Our  own  Experience  then,  without 
having  recourse  to  foreign  Examples,  shows  we  cannot  be  too 
careful  in  the  Choice  of  our  Delegates.  What  we  have  lost  is  ir- 
reparable ;  for  Power  is  hard-hearted,  and  will  never  give  up  what 
it  has  once  acquired.  Let  us  therefore  trust  None  who  are 
under  the  Shadow  or  Influence  of  it ;  and  least  of  all  those  Judges 
and  Magistrates  to  whom  the  Interpretation  and  Execution  of 
the  Laws  are  committed,  and  who  hold  their  Places  at  the  Will 
of  the  Governor.  Should  a  Majority  composed  of  such  get  into 
the  Assembly,  as  is  now  attempted,  the  Legislative  and  Executive 

30 


Power  would  be  in  the  same  Hands,  which  is  the  very  Essence  and 
Definition  of  Tyrany. 

I  t  is  absolutely  impossible  for  the  People  to  maintain  the  Lib- 
erty left  them,  unless  those  two  Powers  be  kept  distinct  and  inde- 
pendent of  one  another.  "No  Government  can  be  free,"  says  the 
first  Proprietor,  unless  the  Laws  rule,  and  the  People  are  a  Party 
to  those  Laws."  Now  how  can  the  Law  rule,  if  the  Interpreters 
of  it  should  be  accountable  only  to  themselves  for  willful  Miscon- 
structions and  corrupt  Judgments?  In  England  the  Judges  never 
were  nor  can  be  by  the  Constitution,  members  of  Parliament. 
Yet  as  they  hold  Places  there  during  good  Behaviour,  the  reasons 
against  chusing  such  as  Representatives  here,  are  much  stronger, 
since  they  hold  their  Places  but  during  Pleasure.  It  may  be  ob- 
jected that  it  has  been  a  Custom  to  chuse  some  of  our  Judges  to 
represent  us.  But  it  was  a  Custom  of  pernicious  Tendency  and  of 
evil  Example;  and  since  we  are  now  got  happily  quit  of  it,  I  hope 
none  will  be  found  so  hardy  as  to  plead  for  it  again. 

Most  of  the  Seats  of  Judicature  throughout  the  Province  have 
been  lately  modelled  according  to  the  Governors  Fancy.  Many 
new  Judges  have  been  created,  and  several  old  ones  have  been 
turned  out.  It  would  be  absurd  to  suppose  that  the  Creatures  of 
the  Governor  (for  we  may  so  call  them  since  they  are  created  by 
him,  and  that  their  Being  depends  upon  his  Breath)  think  differ- 
ently from  their  Creator.  He  thinks,  and  so  do  the  Proprietors, 
that  the  Assembly  ought  not  to  sit  on  their  own  Adjournments, 
and  have  the  sole  Disposition  of  the  publick  Money.  The  Gov- 
ernor's Creatures,  no  doubt,  think  so  too ;  and  therefore  if  they 
carry  the  approaching  Election,  we  cannot  flatter  ourselves  that 
those  Privileges  will  be  any  longer  continued  to  us.  Others  too 
may  be  taken  away.  Perhaps  the  powei^  of  chusing  the  Inspect- 
ors, and  of  judging  of  the  Qualifications  of  Electors,  may  be  trans- 
ferred to  the  Governor's  Creatures,  under  the  suspicious  pretence 
of  preventing  Tumults,  as  was  formerly  attempted;  and  so  we 
shall  all  be  legally  ruined  and  undone.  A  childish  Declaimer  asks. 
What  Temptation  can  a  Governor  throzv  in  their  Way  great  enough  to 
engage  them  in  sueh  a  Crime?  But  if  he  inquires  into  the  Motives 
that  induced  several  of  them  in  their  inferiour  Courts  to  arraign 
the  Proceedings  of  the  High  Court  of  Assembly,  before  it  was 
dissolved,  and  as  much  as  in  them  lay,  to  bring  that  Branch  of  the 
ligislative,  which  is  the  only  Barrier  the  People  have  to  oppose 
against  arbitrary  Power,  into  Contempt:  If  he  informs  himself 
how  far  it  is  consistent  with  the  Characters  of  Judges  to  ride  about 
the  Country  begging  of  Votes  for  themselves  to  be  chosen  Mem- 
bers of  Assembly:     I  say,  if  he  inquires  into  the  Reason  of  so 

31 


much  Zeal,  he  will,  possibly,  find  an  easy  Solution  to  his  Question. 
He  has  no  Objection  against  our  present  Representatives  on  Ac- 
count of  their  Aversion  to  a  Militia-Act;  for  that  Point,  as  he  says, 
is  now  quite  out  of  the  present  Dispute.  Yet,  tho'  they  are  all  in- 
dependent, tho'  none  of  them  have  Places  depending  on  the  Gov- 
ernor, he  would  have  us  change  them  for  Place-Men;  (for  such  he 
must  mean  tho'  he  does  not  mention  them,  since  they  are  the 
Candidates)  and  on  these  Conditions  he  graciously  offers  us 
Peace.  This  pleasant  Proposal  puts  me  in  Mind  of  a  Fable  as- 
cribed to  Demosthenes.  The  Occasion  was  this.  Philip  of  Maecdon 
having  invested  Athens,  and  reduced  the  Inhabitants  to  great  E.x- 
tremity,  offered  to  raise  the  Siege,  and  enter  into  a  Treaty  of 
Peace  with  them  if  they  would  banish  some  of  the  Principal  Men 
of  the  City  who  had  opposed  him  the  most  vigorously.  Upon 
which  Demosthenes  told  the  Athenians  the  following  Story.  Once 
upon  a  Ti>nc  the  IVolves  proposed  a  League  of  Friendship  zvith  the 
Sheep,  on  Condition  they  ivoidd  remoi'e  their  Sheplicrds,  against  whom 
the  IVolves  zvere  alzvays  howling  as  the  Cause  of  Contention  betzveen 
them  and  the  Sheep.  These  from  their  Desire  of  Peace  stupidly  con- 
sented .  The  immediate  Consequence  of  which  zvas,  that  the  IVolves 
zvithout  Mercy  devoured  the  Sheep. 

There  is  not,  Centlcmen,  any  one  Reason  offered  you  for 
changing  your  Representatives,  at  this  Juncture,  but  what  ought 
to  be  of  the  greatest  Weight  with  you  for  continuing  them.  The 
Governor's  Creatures  publickly  declare,  that  he  will  pass  no  Bills 
whatsoever  into  Laws  if  the  present  Delegates  be  re-elected.  I 
will  not,  I  ought  not  to  believe  that  the  Governor  ever  said  so; 
for  that  would  be  saying  neither  more  nor  less  than  that  we  must 
either  suffer  him  to  chuse  our  Representative  for  us,  or  else  he 
will  dissolve  the  Ties  of  Government,  and  bring  all  Things  into 
Confusion.  Should  His  Majesty's  Ministers  make  such  a  Dec- 
laration '\nEngland,\\ovj  many  Impeachments  and  Bills  of  Attainder 
would  it  produce?  Tyburn  would  crack  with  the  load  of  Tray- 
tors. 

The  Governor's  Creatures  do  also  give  out,  that  tho'  the 
Assembly  be  changed,  he  will  not  revive  the  temporary  Laws, 
lately  dropped  (by  whom  by  the  Way,  may  be  the  Subject  of  a 
public  Inquiry)  unless  he  be  paid  his  Arrearages.  Now  the  sup- 
plies allowed  to  the  Governor  of  Pennsylvania  was  always  a  free 
Gift.  It  cannot  therefore  be  claimed  as  a  Debt.  Besides  to  lay 
the  People  under  such  Difficulties  as  to  oblige  them  to  give  up 
their  Money,  and  to  take  it  from  them  directly  by  an  armed  Force, 
is  to  do  one  and  the  same  Thing  by  two  different  Methods.  By 
the  fourth  Law  agreed  upon  in  England  by  the  Proprietor  and 

32 


first  Adventurers,  it  was  stipulated,  "That  no  Money  should  be 
"levied  on  the  People  of  this  Province  by  Way  of  public  Tax. 
"Custom  or  Contribution  but  by  a  Law  for  that  Purpose  made ; 
"and  that  whosoever  should  levy,  collect  or  pay  any  Money  or 
"goods  contrary  thereunto,  should  be  held  a  public  Enemy  to  the 
"Province  and  a  Betrayer  of  the  Liberties  of  the  People  thereof. 
We  are  not  a  free  People,  if  we  cannot  redress  our  just  Griev- 
ances unless  we  part  first  with  our  Money.  And  if  our  Repre- 
sentatives at  their  last  Convention  had  agreed  to  do  it  on  any 
other  Terms,  it  is  plain,  that  in  the  Sense  of  the  Paragraph  just 
now  cited,  they  would  be  deemed  Betrayers  of  your  Liberties. 

A  s  every  just  Government  must  be  derived  from  the  Consent,* 
so  it  cannot  be  supported  but  by  the  Affections  of  the  People. 
Your  domestic  Enemies,  Gentlemen,  and  it  is  impossible  you 
should,  have  any  such,  without  being  at  the  same  Time,  Enemies 
to  God,  to  their  King  and  their  Country,  have  endeavoured  to  ter- 
rify you  out  of  your  Liberties.  But  they  have  at  last  plaid  their 
Game  so  openly,  that  the  very  Women  look  into  their  PLmds. 
Your  unanimous  disdain  of  such  Candidates  at  the  approaching 
Election  will  infallibly  restore  Peace  and  Tranquility  among  us ; 
for  thereby  our  Adversaries  will  be  convinced  of  the  Vanity  and 
Absurdity  of  the  attempts  to  govern  Freemen  against  their  Con- 
sent. One  of  the  Articles  of  impeachment  against  the  Earl  of 
Clarendon  in  the  Reign  oiKingCharlcs  2.  was, That  he  endeavoured 
to  introduce  an  arbitrary  Power  in  the  Plantations,  which,  if  it  had 
been  true,  he  acknowledged  he  had  forfeited  his  Head.  That  up- 
right Ministers  well  knew  of  what  importance  the  Colonies  were  to 
Great  Britain,  and  that  the  surest  Method  of  multiplying  the  Brit- 
ish Subjects  in  America,  and  of  preserving  their  Affection  to  the 
Mother  Country  was  to  establish  FREEDOM  amongst  them,  and 
guard  them  from  Oppressions. 

T  o  conclude,  The  Facts  I  have  laid  before  you  are  of  public 
Notoriety.  The  Arguments  they  suggest  are  plain  and  obvious 
to  every  Man  of  common  Sense,  Truth  and  a  good  Cause  stand 
in  need  of  no  Artifice  or  Disguise.  That  silly  Scribler,  which  I  be- 
fore took  Notice  of,  has  told  you,  that  under  our  present  unhappy 
Circumstances,  it  is  criminal  to  be  silent,  it  is  criminal  to  be  neutral 

and  unconcern  d but  he  forgot  to  have  told  you  that  it  is  a 

thousand  Times  more  criminal  to  be  concerned  on  the  criminal 
Side. 

I  am 

Gentlemen, 

Your  most  humble  Servant 
Endorsed         Against  the  Elections  of  1742         A.  B. 

*Note  the  germ  of  a  sentence  in  the  Declaration  of  Independence. 

33 


The  LETTER  To 

THE  FREE-HOLDERS 

Of  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania, 

Continued. 

Friends  and  Countrymen, 

THAT  our  Province  is  disturl)e(l  with  Contentions  and  Party 
Heat,  and  that  the  Money  accruing  from  the  Excise,  and  the  In- 
terest received  yearly  into  the  Loan  Office  (which  arises  from  the 
Labour  and  Sweat  of  our  Inlial)itanls)  is  squandered  away  in 
ridiculous  Negociations  and  empty  Pretentions  to  support  Lib- 
erties and  Privileges,  are  Facts  not  to  be  denycd.  Are  not  the 
late  Assembly  defeated  in  their  applications  to  England?  And  is 
not  their  conduct  like  to  bring  down  just  Resentments  of  his 
Majesty  upon  the  Province?  What  will  be  the  consequence  of 
their  Doings,  may  be  fully  seen  l)y  the  Report  of  the  Lords  of 
Trade  lately  come  over.  If  we  take  a  particular  review  of  the 
horrid  U'asle  of  the  publick  Money,  it  will  also  further  convince 
us  they  are  the  most  unfit  of  any  Men  in  our  Province  to  be  con- 
tinued as  our  Representatives ;  for  as  long  as  Men  of  heated  Pas- 
sions are  intrusted  with  the  Publick  Treasury,  nothing  can  ever  be 
expected  but  that  to  support  their  extravagancy  of  Temper,  they 
will  lay  aside  all  Duty  or  Consideration  of  the  publick  Interest,  to 
defend  their  embarrased  Schemes  and  support  their  sunk  Repu- 
tations. Plave  we  not  flagrant  Instances  before  us  of  the  profuse 
and  extravagant  Conduct  of  these  Men  with  Regard  to  the  publick 
Money?  Have  they  not  inconsiderately  transmitted  Three 
Thousand  Pounds  to  Great  Britain  for  a  chimercial  Purpose?  And 
have  they  not  lodged  this  Money  to  be  squandered  away  in  sup- 
port of  their  own  fantastical  Projects  and  trifling  Solicitations? 
Have  they  not,  in  a  Manner,  sunk  Sei'ciiteoi  Hundred  Pounds  in 
the  Purchase  of  a  Tide-Swamp  to  finish  the  Misery  of  Foreigners? 
When  a  Place,  better  answering  all  the  Ends  proposed,  might 
have  been  purchased  for  the  Twentieth  Part  of  the  Expence;  and 
is  it  not  evident  that  this  Project  will  bring  a  considerable  anual 
Charge  to  keep  it  above  Water?  it  being  the  first  instance  that  was 
ever  heard  of  in  any  part  of  the  World,  that  a  Marsh  is  a  proper 
Place  to  erect  an  Hospital.  Have  not  they  combined  to  divide  a 
large  Share  of  publick  Money  for  pretended  Services  among  them- 
selves? Has  not  a  leading  Member  of  this  ever-memorable  Con- 
vention received  Fifty  Pounds  to  himself  alone,  for  Tivent^i  Days 
Service  as  King's  Attorney?  Has  he  not  likewise  had  large 
Shares  of  the  publick  Money  from  drawing  Bills,  Rejoinders, 
Answers,  Replys,  and  to  spin  out  Matters  for  a  seven  Years  Con- 
tention?    Have  not  large  Sums  been  divided  among  secret  Com- 

34 


mittee-Meii,  Inquisitors  and  Negotiators  of  a  Lower  Rank?  Have 
tliey  not  visibly  sunk  us  'J'cn  Thousand  Founds  within  these  two 
Years,  emptied  the  Treasury,  and  left  us  Four  Thousand  Founds  in 
Debt?  Which  Money  they  have  issued  out  of  the  Bills  made  for 
Changing  the  old  and  ragged  Money,  and  which  from  the  Disap- 
pointment many  Persons  have  met  with  in  their  repeated  Applica- 
tions to  the  Office  for  that  Purpose  has  rendered  a  great  Part  of  our 
Currency  in  a  Condition  not  fit  to  pass  amongst  us,  and  this  they 
have  done  expresly  contrary  to  Law,  since  it  was  lodged  in  the 
Trustees  Hands  for  exchanging  defaced  Bills,  and  is  by  no  Means 
subject  to  any  Orders  irom  the  Assembly;  the  Law  is  to  be  a 
Direction  to  the  Trustees  for  the  disposal  of  that  Money,  and  they 
are  liable  to  a  Prosecution  if  they  transgress  it ;  the  Assembly 
have  by  this  Means  deceived  the  People:  This  Money  must  be 
replaced,  and  if  it  cannot  be  done  in  any  other  Way  (of  which  there 
is  hardly  a  possibility) it  must  be  by  a  Provincial  Tax;  this  will  in- 
deed open  the  Eyes  of  the  People,  and  then  they  may  wish  they 
had  hearkened  to  the  Advice  of  prudent  Men  when  it  will  be  too 

late.  They  have,  it  is  true,   been  charged  publickly   with 

keeping  back  their  Minutes,  and  with  not  printing  the  publick 
Accounts ;  but  how  do  they  Clear  themselves  of  the  Charge?  Why 
their  Printer  is  pleased  to  tell  us,  that  they  gave  no  Orders  to  de- 
lay the  Printing  of  them :  But  this  piece  of  equivocal  Sophistry 
will  not  satisfy  the  People  of  Fennsylvania:  Did  they  give  him  Or- 
ders to  print  them  immediately  after  the  Sessions,  as  has  been 
usual  with  all  other  Assemblies,  or  was  a  Committee  appointed 
for  that  purpose?  or  have  that  Committee  done  it?  The  Truth 
of  the  Matter  is,  they  are  not  yet  published,  nor  will  they  be  till 
they  have  done  all  in  their  Power  to  secure  their  being  Re- 
Elected :  Their  Printer  goes  on  and  fays,  a  Sight  of  the  Minutes 
has  not  been  denied  to  any  that  have  asked  to  see  them.  Let  us  ask  this 
Advocate  for  his  Masters,  who  have  upon  all  Occasions  paid  him 
so  well,  has  any  a  Right  to  a  Sight  of  the  Assembly's  Votes  till 
they  are  printed?  Has  the  Printer  a  Right  to  show  every  Man 
the  written  Minutes?  Or  could  any  considerate  Person  think  it 
just  he  should  do  so?  No  surely:  Had  not  the  Assembly  them- 
selves been  Apprehensive  of  the  Peoples  Dissatisfaction  with  them 
for  their  squandering  away  the  publick  Money,  they  would  no 
doubt  e're  now  been  printed.  Good  Men  fear  not  an  enquiry 
into  their  Actions,  but  desire  they  may  be  publickly  known. 

To  such  a  Height  is  the  indiscreet  Madness  of  these  Men 
grown,  that  many  among  them  now  declare,  that  they  wish  for  a 
Change  of  our  Government,  rather  than  own  that  they  have  been  in 
the  wrong,  or  admit  of  falling  upon  Ways  to  reconcile  the  present 

35 


Differences;  they  are  disposed  to  part  with  all  the  great  Conces- 
sions granted  to  them  by  our  late  Honourable  Proprietors, 
rather  than  lay  aside  their  favourite  Passions,  for  that  must  be  the 
Case  if  the  Government  is  given  up  into  the  Hands  of  the  Crown ; 
we  must  then  be  upon  a  level  with  the  rest  of  his  Majesty's  Colo- 
nies, though  at  present  (if  we  knew  when  we  are  well)  we  are,  in 
many  respects,  in  a  happier  Condition :  We  have  anual  Assem- 
blies, we  have  the  Choice  of  our  Sheriffs,  and  many  other  Privi- 
leges as  our  undoubted  Rights.  When  Mr.  Fletcher  had  a  Com- 
mission from  the  King  for  being  Governor  of  this  Province,  he 
issued  out  Writs  to  chuse  an  Assembly,  and  appointed  Sheriffs, 
without  any  Regard  to  the  Charter  that  subsisted  then  among  us : 
Can  these  People  therefore  be  proper  Advocates  for  our  Liberties 
who  would  willingly  part  with  so  many  valuable  Privileges  to 
gratify  their  Passions  and  private  Revenge.  The  Militia  and 
Forts  they  now  make  use  of  as  Bugbears  to  afifright  weak  People: 
Will  they  not  of  course  attend  a  change  of  our  Government? 
Is  there  any  Province  belonging  to  the  King  where  a  Militia  is 
not  appointed  by  Law,  or  where  there  are  not  Batteries  and  For- 
tifications for  Defence?  How  consistent  then  are  these  Mens 
Proceedings  with  their  many  and  high,  Declarations  of  maintain- 
ing our  Liberties  and  Privileges?  If  we  therefore  desire  to  have 
our  excellent  Constitution  preserved  and  many  valuable  Privileges 
continued  to  us ;  if  we  desire  to  avoid  the  Oppression  of  heavy 
Fees  in  petty  Law  Sutes;  if  we  would  promote  the  Prosperity  of 
the  landed  Interests  and  give  Life  to  our  Trade  abroad  and  in- 
courage  Industry  at  home ;  if  we  ever  desire  to  see  Peace  again  in 
our  Days  in  this  our  distracted  Country,  let  us  take  time  by  the 
Fore-lock  and  make  use  of  the  Opportunity  we  now  have ;  and  let 
every  Man  of  every  Rank  and  Denomination  joyn  Heart  and 
Hand  to  rescue  our  Country  from  the  impending  Evils  these  men 
are  like  to  bring  upon  us. —  Let  us  put  it  out  of  their  Power  for 
the  future  to  support  their  own  private  Quarrels  and  Contentions 
with  the  Country's  Money. —  And  let  us  direct  our  Choice  to  such 
Men  as  are  likely  to  restore  that  Harmony  and  Peace  which 
formerly  subsisted  among  us,  and  like  true  lovers  of  our  Country 
let  us  at  this  Time  show  our  Zeal  for  the  Common  Good,  by  mak- 
ing choice  of  such  Men  whose  Hands  have  not  been  the  Instru- 
ments of  our  present  Distractions  and  threatening  Ruin.  But 
especially  let  us  avoid  those,  who,  at  all  adventures,  will  run  the 
Province  into  the  utmost  Extremity  to  execute  their  implacable 
Resentments. 

The  Freeholders 
Endorsed  real  Friend  and  Countryman 

Against  the  Elections  T.    B. 

of  1742 

36 


BY    THE    HONOURABLE 
GEORGE  THOMAS,  Esq; 

Lieutenant  Governor  and  Commander  in  Chief  of  the  Province  of 
Pcuusylvauia,  and  the  Counties  of  Nezv-Castle,  Kent  and  Sussex 
upon  Delaware. 

A  PROCLAMATION. 

WHEREAS,  by  the  express  Orders  of  the  Hon.  the  Proprietaries, 
no  Warrant  or  License  has  issued  out  of  the  Land-OfUcc  for  taking 
up  or  settHng  any  Lands  in  the  County  of  Lancaster,  to  the  West- 
ward of  the  Kittoclitinny-Hills  otherwise  called  the  Endless  or  Blue 
Mountains,  so  that  all  such  as  have  presum'd  to  possess  themselves 
of  any  Lands  there,  are  manifest  Intruders;  and,  as  such,  liable  by 
the  Laws  to  be  removed,  and,  in  Case  of  Refusal,  to  be  committed 
to  Prison  and  severely  Fined. 

AND  WHEREAS  the  Indians  at  the  Treaty  made  with  them  in 
the  Month  of  July  last,  did  complain  that  they  were  greatly  dis- 
turbed and  injured  by  Peoples  settling  at  Juniata  and  in  other  Parts 
of  the  County  of  Lancaster  to  the  Westward  of  those  Hills,  and  be- 
came earnest  Petitioners  that  all  such  Persons  might  be  made  to 
remove  from  thence.  I  favouring  the  Request  of  the  said  Indi- 
ans, and  to  the  End  that  all  Persons  concerned  may  have  sufficient 
Notice  of  the  Dangers  they  incur  from  their  Resentment,  and  the 
Violation  of  the  Laws,  Have  thought  fit  to  issue  this  my  Procla- 
mation, hereby  strictly  requiring  all  Persons  who  have  presum'd 
to  possess  themselves  of  any  Lands  situate  in  the  Places  aforesaid, 
or  in  any  Part  of  the  said  County  of  Lancaster  to  the  Westward  of 
the  aforesaid  Ridge  of  Mountains,  or  who  have  seated  themselves 
on  any  Tracts  appropriated  to  the  use  of  the  Indians  on  this  side  of 
those  Hills,  forthwith  to  leave  their  Possessions  and  remove  off 
them  with  their  Families  and  Effects,  as  they  will  answer  the  con- 
trary at  their  highest  Peril.  And  as  by  reason  of  the  approaching 
Winter,  some  may  not  be  able  to  provide  themselves  with  fit  Habi- 
tations or,  with  the  Necessaries  of  Life,  if  they  should  be  compell'd 
immediately  to  leave  their  Houses-  and  Plantations,  the  Removal 
of  such  as  are  in  these  Circumstances  is  respited  to  the  tirst  Day  of 
May  next,  the  longest  Time  that  will  be  allowed  any  one  to  con- 
tinue in  the  Possession  of  any  Land  so  situate  as  aforesaid. 
AND  I  DO  hereby  require  the  Sheriff  of  Lancaster  County  to 
publish  this  Proclamation  at  the  Court-House  of  the  said  County, 
and  to  cause  Copy's  thereof  to  be  affixed  at  the  most  pubhck 

'"7 

0/ 


351933 


Places,  and  particularly  at  Juniata  and  from  thence  all  along  on  the 
BaidvS  of  the  Kk'cr  Stisqucbaiuia  tO'  IVyunicii,  and  at  Licking-Crcck 
Hills  near  the  River  Patozvincck,  that  none  may  pretend  Ignorance 
thereof. 

Given  at  PHILADELPHIA  under  my  Hand  and  the  Great 
Seal  of  the  said  Province,  the  fifth  Day  of  October  1742  in 
the  Sixteenth  Year  of  the  Reign  of  our  Sovereign  Lord 
GEORGE  the  Second,  by  the  Grace  of  God  of  Great- 
Britain,  France  and  Ireland,  KING  Defender  of  the  Faith, 
etc. 

GEORGE  THOMAS. 

GOD  Save  the  KING. 


Endorsed         "The  Governour,s  Proclamation 
forbidding  the  S 
Indian's  Lands" 


forbidding  the  Settling  the 


Pensilvania   1743 

An  almanac  of  Ephemeris  etc.  years 

Being  for  the  creation  of  the  world  5747 

Landing  of  Julius  Caesar  in  England  I797 

Royal  Grant  of  Pensilvania  63. 

by  Jacob  Taylor  etc. 

Philadelphia  Printed  and  sold  by  Isaiah  Warner  almost  opposite  to 
Charles  Brockdcn's  in  Chestnut  Street  giving  besides  the  usual  alma- 
nac news  the  times  of  meeting  of  the  Provincial  Courts  in  Penna., 
Md.,  and  N.  J. 


The  American  Almanack 

for  the  year  of  Christian  Account  1744  etc.  Fitted  to  the  latitude  of 
I'"orty  Degrees,  by  John  Jcrman  Philomath,  etc.  Printed  and  sold  by 
/.  Warner  and  C.  Bradford  at  the  Biljle  in  Front  Street. 

38 


Feb.  14.  1744 

THIS  INDENTURE  made  the  fourteenth  day  of  Feb- 
ruary One  Thousand  Seven  hun/d.  and  ffourty  four  Between 
William  Coats  of  the  Northern  Liberties  of  the  City  of  Phila.  Yeoman 
of  the  One  part  and  Thomas  Leech  of  the  s/d.  City  of  Philadelphia 
Merch/t.  of  the  other  part.  Whereas  the  s/dThomas Leech  is  now 
about  to  fence  in  the  piece  of  Land  lately  belonging  John  Stacey 
dec/d.  And  the  Creek  called  Cohockson  Creek  the  Bounda  betwixt 
the  s/d.  William  Coats  his  Land  and  the  s/d.Staceys  Land,  and  it  being 
represented  by  the  s/d  Thomas  Leech  to  the  s/d  William  Coats  the 
ffence  cannot  be  made  secure  and  fixed  so  as  to  remain  any  time  along 
s/d  Creek  side  in  the  Soft  mud  on  the  s/d  Stacys  side  of  the  Creek  Now 
This  Indenture  Witnesseth  That  the  s/d  William  Coats  as  well  for  and 
upon  the  Consideration  afores/d.  as  of  the  paym/t.  of  the  Rent  and  in 
and  by  this  present  Indenture  reserved  Hath  given  granted  devised  set 
and  to  ffarm  Let  and  by  these  presents  doth  give  grant  devise  set  and 
to  ffarm  Let  unto  the  s/d  Thomas  Leech  his  heirs  and  Assigns  all  those 
slips  or  narrow  pieces  of  Swamp  or  Marsh  Ground  along  the  Creek 
where  any  such  shall  happen  to  be  betwixt  the  Creek  and  ffast  Land 
along  the  Creek  as  far  as  the  same  is  the  Boundary  betwixt  the  s/d  two 
Tracts  of  Land.  And  also  full  right  License  Liberty  privilege  and 
Authority  to  Errect  and  place  the  Division  ffence  upon  the  Edge  of  the 
fast  Land  on  the  said  Coats  his  Side  of  the  Creek  all  along  the  side  of 
the  s/d  Bank  as  far  as  the  Creek  divides  betwixt  the  s/d  two  Tracts  of 
Land  To  have  and  to  hold  the  s/d  slips  or  narrow  pieces  of  Marsh 
Ground  or  Swamp  and  premises  with  all  the  Rights  Liberties  and 
priviledges  hereby  granted  or  mentioned  to  be  granted  with  the  ap- 
purtenanses  unto  the  s/d  Thomas  Leech  his  heirs  and  assigns  to  the 
only  proper  Use  and  behoof  of  the  s/d  Thomas  Leech  his  heirs  and 
assigns  for  ever  Yielding  and  paying  unto  the  said  William  Coats  his 
heirs  and  Assigns  the  Yearly  Rent  of  ffive  Shillings  Lawful  money  of 
Pensilvania  on  the  Twenty  flfifth  day  of  March  for  Ever. 
The  first  payment  to  be  and  commence  on  the  Twenty  fifth  day  of 
March  One  Thousand  Seven  hundred  and  ffourty  six  Reserving  never- 
theless unto  s/d  William  Coats  his  heirs  and  Assigns  full  and  ffree  Lib- 
erties and  privelege  of  Convenient  Watering  place  or  places  to  and 
for  the  accommodation  of  any  Lott  or  Lotts  hereinafter  to  be 
fenced  in  or  Leased  Out  ffronting  the  s/d  Creek  and  Boundary. 
And  the  s/d  William  Coats  for  himself  his  heirs  Exect/rs  and  Adniin- 
ist/rs,  doth  Covennt.  promise  and  grant  to  and  with  s/d  Thomas  Leech 
his  heirs  and  Assigns  That  he  the  s/d  Tho/s.  Leech  his  heirs  and  as- 
signs paying  the  Rent  hereby  reserved  and  performing  and  keeping  the 
Reservations  and  Covenants  herein  Specifyed  shall  and  Lawfully  may 
from  time  to  time  and  at  all  times  hereafter  freely  quietly  and  peacea- 

39 


bly  have  hold  and  enjoy  the  hereby  granted  or  mentioned  to  be  granted 
premisses  with  tlie  appurtenances  without  any  the  Lawfull  Let  suit 
Trouble  or  Molestation  of  any  person  or  persons  whatsoever  by  from 
or  under  him  them  or  any  of  them.  In  Witness  whereof  the  s/d  parties 
to  these  presents  have  ln(ter)changeably  to  these  present  Indentures 
set  their  hands  and  Seals 

Dated  this  Day  and  Year  first  above  Written 

William  Coats  [Seal.] 
Sealed  and  Delivered 
in  the  presence  of 
the  Word  (Six)  being  made 
first  in  the  twenty  third 
Line 

Reese  Peter 


his 
Hugh    H^    Ross 
Mark 


The  American  Weekly  Mercury  Num.    1272. 

From  May  17  to  May  24.  1744. 
Containing  news  of  the  action  of  Admiral  Mathews  with  the  Dragon, 
Warwick,  and  Wlnchelsea,  against  the  combined  French  and  Spanish 
Fleets  oflf  Toulon. 

Boston  May  14.  Last  Saty  Ev'g  a  ship  arrived  here  in  five  weeks  and 
2  days  from  Glasgow  with  translation  of  the  French  King's  Ordonance 
declaring  war  against  England  dated  March  15.  1744.  and  a  copy  of 
the  declaration  of  War  by  the  King  of  Great  Britain  against  the 
French  King.  etc. 


The  Pennsylvania  Gazette  June  14,  1744.   Numb    809.  containing 
Proclamation  by  the  Hon.  Geo.  Thomas,  etc.,  etc. 


Supplement  to  the  Pennsylvania  Gazette  N/o  867. 
Phila.  July  25,  1745.  containing  message  of  the  Governor  to  the  Gen. 
.\ssembly  of  the  Province,  and  the  resolution  of  the  latter  granting 
£  4000  to  the  King's  use. 

40 


The  account  book  from  which  the  following  notes  are  taken  seems 
to  have  served  the  original  owner  Dr.  Taylor  and  his  granddaughter's 
husband  General  Persifor  Frazer 

ACCOUNT  BOOK  OF  DR.  JOHN  TAYLOR 


Note 
Bond 

Bond 

Note 


page  22 

John  Taylor  to  Jacob  Taylor  to  be  paid  on 

Demand  Dated  the  29""  of  Decern'  1757  for 
Jn°  Taylor  to  James  Broom  Dated  8"'  Jan*.   1759 

for 
Assun^'d  by  Jacob  Taylor  the  9""  of  Jan'',  the 

same  year  and  Assign'd  by  s""  James  Broom  6"'  July  foil*. 
Jn°  Taylor  to  Ja'  Broom  dated  25'"  Novem'  1758 
a  Judgm'  Assum''  and  Assign'd  as  above,  for 
Jn"  Taylor  to  James  Broom  dated,  the  4"' 

Decem'  1758  for 
Assum'd  and  Assign'd  as  above 


p  39 
Jn"  Hart  D' 


To  Cash  at  G 
To  Cash 
To    D° 

D» 

D» 

D" 

D» 

D° 

d» 

w'" 

d" 

d° 

d° 

d" 

d» 

d» 

d° 


B:Wine 


To 
To 
To 
To 
To 
To 
To 
To 
To 
To 
To 
To 
To 
To 


Aliens: 
Keelars 

fair  W  R  C  etc 
Bevans  J.  M 

D" 
Beelan 
Bevans,  S. 
d" 

d°  S 
do 
d 


J.  Hart 
C:  K 


W 
O 


Mason 
Sunday  Keelars 

Kemlers     (?) 
C:  C:  H 

d° 


page  71 

Copy  of  Ace'  out  of  a  Memorandum  Book  of 
Doctor  Taylor. 
My     Daughter  Martha  was  Married  the  2f  of  Novem' 
1738   to  W"  Empson 

The  Expence  of  her  Wedding  dinner  besides 
trouble  etc.  amf  to 
The    I  Cloathes  she  had  ag"  her  Marriage  Am'  to 
The    week  after  She  was  Married  1  gave  her  in  part 
of  her  portion  a  Horse  which  Cost 
and  twenty  Pistoles  which  with  y°  common  advance 
amounted  to 

and  ten  yards  Ozenbrigs  @ 
April 
1759     I  gave  him  a  suit  of  BroadCloath 
with  trimmings  w"""  came  to 


October 
»739 


1  gave  her  a  Plush  Side  Saddle  which  Cost 
a  looking  Glass 

Some  household  Stuff,  callico  and  Linnen 
w""  necessaries  for  dying  in  w"""  came  to 

41 


23 


£ 


£ 


25 . 
24  . 

16  . 

28  . 


5  • 
I  . 

'3  ■ 
125 


18. 


9 
10 

9 

3 

II 

9 

o 

3 

3 
9 
4 
xo% 

4 
6 


ACCOUNT  BOOK  OF  DR.  JOHN  TAYLOR  (Continued) 

page  73 


Nov' 
22 

Dec' 

4 

12 

March 

1740 

br 

'13 

April 

1741 

Aue' 3 

1742 
May 

i74J< 

Jan' 

30 

Ap'  16 

Am'  brought  Forward 

a  large  Trunk 
to  Cash  to  his  Wife 
to  a  frying  pan 
to  a  warming  Pan 

to  Cash  to  himself 

My  Wife  carr"  him  Linnen  and  other  goods 
to  the  value  of 

to  pay 
to  Cash  to  his  Wife  A  for  nursing  his  Child 

To  a  Tea  Kettle,  Spoons,  dishes  and 
Furniture  w'"  tea 

To  Sundries  ag'  her  lying  in  Viz  his  wife 
To  Sundry  goods  delivered  to  her  at  the 
amt"  to 

To  goods  did  to  my  daughter  Martha 
to  the  Value  of 

To  a  Servant  Girl  nam'd  Mary  Simmons 

To  Cash  p''  Thomas  Booth  for  William  Empson 

*6 

125  .  . 

6.    . 
8-    . 

3  • 

%'.   '. 
6.   . 

10  .    . 

4  •    • 
10  .    . 

14.   . 
10  .    . 
19.    . 

15  .    . 

0  .    . 

5  •    • 

6 
9 

6 
8 

173-  . 

175.  . 

4  • 
12  .    . 

6.    . 

5 

1744 

July 

20 

page  73 

Am'  bro'  forward 

To  so  lb  feathers 
To  a  Mare  and  Colt 

Jn°  Taylor  advance 
Martha  Empson 
Philip  Taylor 
Jacob  Taylor 

6.   . 
II  .    . 

5 
8 

189.  . 

215.  . 

166.  . 

114  .  . 

15.  . 

18.    . 

13  .   . 

8.    . 

15  .    . 

10  .    ■ 

I 

7 

2 

512.  . 

6.   . 

10 

1007  . 

9.   . 

8 

1738 

Dec' 

15'" 

20 

1739 
lo'' 
May 
Octo 

17 

Dec' 
March 
1740 

page  74 

Ace'  of  Physic  which  William  Empson  had  for 
his  Family  etc  since  his  Marriage 

for  his  negro  Woman  Physick  amounting  to 
Physick  for  himself  to  y"  Value  of 

Physick  for  himself  to  y"  Value  of 

Physick  for  his  Wife  himself  and  family 

which  came  to 
to  Physic  for  his  Wife  and  family  W"  came  to 

To  Physick  for  liis  servant  Girl  and  Boy 

I  .    . 

10  .    . 

7  ■    • 

5  • 

10  .    . 
17  ■    ■ 

12  .    . 

6 
6 

6 
6 

42 


ACCOUNT  BOOK  OF  DR.  JOHN  TAYLOR  (Continued) 


page  74  (continued) 


Aug' 

To  physick  for  Negroes 

7-    ■ 

6 

Octo. 

April 
1741 

To  d"  for  his  Self  and  Child 

8.    . 

6 

To  Sundrys  for  his  family  to  Value  of 

8.    . 

6 

March 

1742 

To  Sundrys  for  his  family  to  y"  value  of 

12  .    . 

6 

July 

and 

To  Sundrys  for  his  family  to  the  value  of 

I  .    . 

7  • 

6 

Aug" 

1742-3 

Jan' 

8 

To  Cash  to  pay  his  Ditchers 

10- 

— 

Mar: 

To  Cash  to  pay  the  Ditchers 

5      • 

8  .    '. 

— 

Nov. 

29 

To  a  saddle 

£ 

3  •   • 

— 

25  .   . 

15  .    . 

6 

page  75 

am'  bro'  forward                                                         £ 

25  •    • 

IS  . 

6 

To  one  pair  Boots 

I  .    . 

6  . 



To  Physick 

.   . 

8  .   . 

27.   . 

9'    • 

6 

Total  am'  of  the  ac' 

189.  . 

18.    . 

I 

ag'  W"  Empson                                                             £ 

217.  . 

7      • 

7 

page  76 

October  26'"  1748  Then  Commenceth  the  ace' 

of  my  Donations  to  my  son  Philip  Taylor 

To  I  C  flour 

12 

— 

To  a  pott  1 5-.    a  ffryin  pann  6-6 

I  .    . 

I  .    . 

6 

An  Ax  and  Hoe 

5 

— 

To  two  half  Barrells  and  a  powdering  Tubb 

12  .    . 
6.    . 

— 

To  3  yards  Ozenbrigs 

— 

One  Bushell  Salt 

4  ■    • 

6 

To  7  yards  Garlix 

I  .    . 

5  ■  • 

— 

To  2  Tin  panns  7-6     one  hand  saw  12-. 

one  Hammer  2-6       d 

I  .    . 

2  .    . 

^~ 

To    315   lb   Beef  @   2'A 

J  •    ■ 

5  ■   ■ 

7 

To  a  p'  Boots  from  Jos:  Pratt 

1  .    . 

7  •    ■ 

To  no  lb  Pork  @  2>i 

I  ■    . 

2 

II 

To  10  lb  Tallow 

5  •    ■ 

One  pair  Shoes 

7  • 

6 
6 
6 
6 

To  2  Bushells  Oats 

4  •    • 

To  Cash  to  his  Wife 

7 

To  2  Bushells  Malt 

9  .    . 

To  Raccoon  Halt 

I  .   . 

To  Cash  p'*  Hannah  Lindly  for  him 

3  •   • 

6 

To  one  fe  t  Hatt 

S  •    ■ 

17.   . 

2  .    . 

0 

page  77 

Am'  bro'  forward 

17.   . 

2  .     . 

0 

To  26  y'*'  Ozenbrigs 

2  .    . 

12  .     . 

— 

To  2  Bushell  Oats                             . 

5       • 

— 

To  Cash  to  John  Taylor  for  Smith 

work  done  for  him 

7-    ■ 

4  •    ■ 

— 

Tin  Ware  5-.    Six  Chairs  18-. 

1 

3  •   • 

— 

a  Trunk 

15  • 

— 

Feather  Bed  and  Furniture 

8 

10  .    . 

— 

43 


ACCOUNT  BOOK  OF  DR.  JOHN  TAYLOR  (Continued) 

page  77  (continued) 


May 

20 


1749 
June 
30 


July 

26 

Aug' 


Aug' 

15 
Sep' 

10 


i8 
Octo 

20 

3° 

Nov' 

2 


Nov' 

24 

Dec' 

20 


To  two  Cows  bought  of   Benj"  Sharpless 

a  Bell 
To  a  new  Vest 
To  I  p'  Shoes 
To  two  Horses 
To  30  lb  Wool  @  14" 

To  8  yards  Ozenbrigs 
To  one  side  harness  leather 
To  an  Ox  Chain 
To  a  Grinding  Stone 

To  one  pair  Shoes 

One  Hundred  flour 
two  Bushells  Malt 

To  25  lb  Bacon 

To  17  lb  Bacon 


page  78 

Am'  bro'  forward 

To  I  C  flour 

To  cash  p''  a  Man  who  worked  for  him 

To  7  yards  Chucks 

To  g%  Bus:    Wheat  for  seed  at  5-3 
To  3  Bus:   Seed   Rye 
To  2  Horse  Collars 
To  ;4  gall  Mellasses 
To  H  C'  flour 

To  150  lb  flour 

To  I  pair  Shoes 

To  one  Fatt  Steer 

To  one  Iron   Pott  and  hook 

To  one  Hogg 
To  one  Barrell  Cyder 
To  Turnips 
To  one  Coat 


To  goods  at  Concord 

To  paid  for  a  Cheese  press 
To  goods  at  Concord 
To  one  pair  Shoes 
To  2  Bushells  Malt 


Ap'  2 


page  79 

Amount  bro'  forward 

To   Iron  delivered  last  Spring  and 

worked  up  for  him 
To  a  new  pair   Bound  wheels  and  a  good 

Cart   Body 
To  one  Bushell  flaxseed 

44 


71 


93 

93- 
2  . 
6. 


14 


io>i 


10 


'A 

'A 
lo'A 


ACCOUNT  BOOK  OF  DR.  JOHN  TAYLOR  (Continued) 

page  79  (continued) 

7 

20 
27 

1750 
June 

20 

July 

7 

Sep' 

20 

30 

To  5^^  Bushells  of  Oats  at  3-  for  Seed 
To  ten  Ewes  with  their  Lambs  and  wool 
To  2  young  Hoggs 

To  I  C  flour 
2  gallons  Mellasses 
2Q'  Rum 
2  gallons  Rum 
I  C  flour 

To  a  new  Vest 
To  a  Bull  Calf 

To  a  Servant  Boy 

To  a  Horse 

To  4  Barrells  Cyder 

To  10  Bushells  Turnips 

To  8   Bus:  Winter  Apples 

5     • 

I  .   . 

II  .   . 
15      . 

3-    • 

16.    . 
10  . 
16.    . 

12  .    . 

6.    . 

2  .    . 

8.    . 
12  .    . 

15      . 

12  .    . 

10  .    . 
10  .    . 

6 
6 

144-  . 

144-  . 
2  .    . 

2  .   . 

1  .    . 

2  .    . 

1  .    . 

2  .    . 

12  .   . 
12  .   . 

ID  .    . 

5  •    ■ 

15 .  . 
15 .  . 

17 .  . 

7  •   . 
10  .   . 
15  .    . 

5  •    ■ 
10  .    . 
14.    . 
10  .    . 

II 

I75I 
June 
Aug' 

page  80 

Am'  bro'  forward 
To  Cash 
To  Malt 

To  a  pair  Steel  yards 
To  5  Bushells  Rye 
To  Cash  to  James  Dilworth  for  him 
To  Cash  to  Chichester 

To  Cash  to  Nath*  Evenson  for  Carting  Wheat 
To  Cash  to  Hannah  Lindly 

Rum  and  Mellasses  at  Harvest  and  Hay 
To  Cash  to  a  workman  for  him 
To  a  Bake  Iron  and  Crow  Barr 
paid  Rob'  Walker  for  him 
Total  am'  of  the  Ace' 

against  Philip  Taylor                                               / 

II 

I 

9 
6 

162.  . 

7  •    • 

— 

3 

45 


page  8 1 

A  List  of  Bonds,  Bills  and  Promissory  Notes  which  Dan/1.  Calvert 
hath  in  hia  hands  of  the  Estate  of  Jn/o  Taylor  delivered  unto 
Edw/d.  Brinton  and  Jn/o.  Hannum  the  29/th  of  March  1756. — 


One  Bond  W/m.Empson  to  Jn/o.  Taylor  dated 

One  Bond  Tho/s.  Ogle  Jun/r. 

One  Judg/t  Bond  Joseph  Sellars 

One  Bond  W/m.  Keepers 

One  Bond  James  Lindley 

One  Bond  Richard  Frew? 

One  Jud/t.  Bond  John  Carter 

One  Bond  W/m.  Darlington 

One  Bond  David  Richards 

One  Bond  Tho/s.  Calvert 

One  Bond  James  Few 

One  Bond  James  Broom 

One  Bond  Jacob  Hollingsworth  and  Jn/o. 

Ruston 
One  Bond  Tho/s.  Clayton  to  Jacob  Roman 
One  Bill  Owen  Owens 
One  Note  W/m.  Keepers  to  Zebulon  Oldham 

assign'd  to  Jn/o.  Taylor  dated 

page  82 


27/th.  feb/y.  1747/8 
19/thSep/r.  1754 
iSSep/r.  1755 
lo/th.  Aug/t.  1754 
15/th.  April  1749 
14/th  feb/y.  1755 
28/th.  May  1745/ 
22  March  1749/50 
26/th.  April  1755 
2/nd.  Aug/t.  1753 
14/th.  feb/y.  1754 
17 Jan/y.  1745/6 

20  Jan/y.  1756 
18/th.  may  1744 
17/th.Jan/y.  1749/50 

24/th.  april  1752 


Note  W/m,  Bennitt  dated 

Note  Rich/d  Few 

Note  Jn/o.  Baker 

Note  James  Underwood 

Note  Rob/t.  Jackson,  Jacob  John 

Note  Josiah  Lewis 

Note  Rob/t.  Mercer 
1       David  Derrick 

Rob/t.  Lyon       Note 
Charles  Crossly       Note 
W/m.  Harriss       Note 

Note  Edw/d.  Pilkinton 

Note  W/m.  Holliday 

d/o  Ja/s.  House 

d/o  Isaac  Strode 

Bill  Edward  Brogden 


2/nd. Jan/y.  1749/5° 
15/th  Octo  1755 
28  June  1755 
14  Decern  1749 
24/th.  March  1755 
26/th.  Nov/r.  1743 
26/th.  Nov/r.  1753 
8/th.  June  1752 
6/th.  Nov/r.  1752 
13/th.  April  1748 
2/nd.  June  1750 
8/th.  June  1751 
29/th.  Nov/r.  1742 
last  day  April  1755 

31/th.  May  1746 
29/th  May  1746 


46 


Note  Jn/o.  Vaughan 
Note  Jn/o.  Duglas 
Note  Rich/d  Few 
Note  James  Millison 
Note  Nehemiah  Baker 

Sign'd  by 


14/th.  April  1753 
24/th.  May  1740 
12/th.  feb/y.  1756 
12/th.  feb/y.  1756 
31  Jan/y.  1756 


Edw/d.  Brinton 
Jn/o  Hannum 


Nutmegs  16/  p  lb 
Cinnamon  17/  p.  lb 


(on  last  fly  leaf  reversed) 


The  lo/th  Day  of  March  at  John  Hills  at 

lO/o.Clock  audit  of  Court  (next  to  last  page  reversed) 


(Second  page  from  the  end  reversed) 


D'  Hart  J.  Philips 

0  .   . 

3  •   • 
I  .   . 

1  .   . 

2  .   . 

To  Cash  p''  for  Pictures 
To      D"     p"  for  Glass 
To      D"     p*  fo     paint  G:  L 
To     D'     p"  for  Glass 

6 

7  ■    • 

6 

The  following  promissory  note  is  to  Robert  the  second  son  of  John 
Frazer. 

I  Promise  to  pay  or  Cause  to  be  paid  to  Robert  Frazer  or  Order  the 
Just  and  full  Sum  of  Five  pounds  lawfuU  money  of  Pennsylvania  at  Six 
months  after  date  for  Value  Received  as  Witness  my  hand  this  2  day 
of  February  1755 

Eaneas  m'Carthy 
Endorsed      Pay  the  within  to  my  father 

Robert  Frazer* 


*XVI-2 


47 


Letter  to  John  Frazer  from  his  Father-in-law  Robert  Smith 

Cleary  June  the  1755 

D/r  John 

I  receiued  yours  of  the  15th  of  Dec/r  last  the  other  of  17th 
of  the  sam  I  did  write  by  Phelimy  Coulan  who  went  to  your  Country 
two  years  agoe  he  had  all  I  could  Inform  you  of  the  memorand/m  I 
had  from  Captn  Mallholoun  about  his  Lands  in  your  Contry  which 
was  in  his  Deed  of  settlement  that  Sir  Willm  Penn  or  his  Son  sould 
their  Lands  to  one  Starkey  a  Quaker  who  aferwards  died  and  by  his 
Last  will  Bequeathed  the  sd  Lands  to  his  full  Brother  and  sd  Brother 
who  cam  to  Dublin  and  made  over  the  sam  by  settlement  to  Capt. 
Mallholoun  at  mariag  to  Starkies  neess  and  their  heirs  for  dow/r  I 
maid  further  Inquiry  that  there  was  two  men  from  Drohaday  went 
ouer  to  manage  them  Lands  by  a  power  from  sd  Capt :  more  then  30 
years  ago,  one  Parks  and  one  Gooll :  but  if  they  did  dispose  thereof 
they  aplyd  the  profits  to  theier  own  use  and  neuer  returned :  nor  any 
acount  of  them  I  did  speak  to  the  Capts  oldest  son  and  he  wood  not 
giue  any  Consent  to  dispose  of  said  Lands  untill  he  goes  to  see  them 
first  Sd  Pheliny  Conlan  deceiued  me  for  as  I  hear  he  wrot  hom  to  a 
Get :  of  his  acquaintance  about  the  sd  Lands  but  no  return  to  me  ther- 
for  finds  by  your  lettr  you  did  not  receiue  any  from  him  I  wrot  from 
Dublin  and  Matty  and  Pearsifor  with  Collom  did  Joyn  therein  and 
belieue  you  did  not  receiue  that  now  this  bearer  is  Grandson  to 
William  Wattson  whos :  nam  is  James  Smith  his  father  wnt  ouer  to 
your  Island  and  was  a  Tealor  to  tread  Increased  in  his  business  and 
died  in  Pennelvena  and  left  som  fortun  of  Considerable  Valew  to  his 
son  had  seuerall  time  wrott  for  his  wife  etc :  to  com  to  him  but  she 
being  in  our  Lord  Bleandys  seurice  was  prewlad  on  to  stay  expecting 
he  wood  com  back  to  Irland  now  as  the  bearr  is  a  frend  if  it  Lies  in 
your  way  to  assist  him  to  get  Justice.  Said  Phelimy  Conlan  when  he 
went  to  Pennelvena  pretended  he  was  the  nearest  of  kin  to  the  de- 
sesed  and  clamed  all  he  died  posessed  of  I  heare  but  francis  Brodly  our 
wood  ranger  declared  he  knew  the  Deseased  had  his  wife  and  two  sons 
all  aliue  and  sad  disapointed  Mr  Conely  this  bearers  Grandfather 
Willm  Watson  is  Brother  to  John  Wattson  of  Dery  heath  my  ouldest 
sisters  husban,  this  bearers  Legesys  is  in  the  hands  of  Willm  Arm- 
strongs hands  our  Jon  armstrongs  Brother  in  law  near  Post  town  a  „"ea  way 
from  you  and  yet  your  assistance  may  be  very  be  of  great  seruice 
to  him  his  name  is  James  Smith  sd  Willm  armstrong  hue  near  near 
New  Castle  abut  10  mills  from  it  I  am  tould  I  thank  God  all 
heare  is  well  only  I  and  my  wife  are  near  worn  Crasy  I  was  in 
Dublin  this  last  Tearm  and  has  all  business  prepeared  for  a  tryall 
against  the  next  Tearm  and  has  no  dout  to  get  a  Decree  for  John  Arm- 

48 


strongs  3/d  part  of  the  Lands  of  Clunnickney  and  Cawen  I  was:  lo: 
days  in  Dublin  and  seen  Matty  Just  com  from  the  Bath  in  ould  Eng- 
land very  well  and  Marget  and  famely  and  Couzn  Coote  and  his  famely 
and  as  Thomas  Smith  had  remoued  his  ould  Cruked  Cause  about  his 
Brothers  will  from  Ardmagh  to  the  Prog  Prorogitune  Court  I  spok  to 
John  Greasons  Proctr  and  he  is  to  manag  for  John  there  although  sd 
will  was  Condmned  as  a  false  unlawfuU  firadelent  will  yet  Thos  Smith 
is  not  ashamed  to  pay  Costs  and  remoue  it  to  Dublin :  I  have  got 
about  12/th  Cost  and  he  has  Lost  as  much  Disputing  and  am  very  sure 
he  will  be  easey  in  a  short  tim  for  both  John  and  me  are  on  good 
ground  and  well  aduised  wee  will  both  defatt  him  which  is  a  great 
trouble  to  his  Unkle  Allixandr  and  all  his  famely  Thos  Smith  has  not 
Left  John  armstrong  the  value  of  one  peny  eithe(r)  in  Cattle  Corn  or 
land  only  the  house  bearly :  but  I  hop  I  will  recouer  lost  profits  and  all 
wasts  agnst  him  as  I  am  aduised 

I  hop  you  and  your  famely  are  in  good  health  pray  let  us  know  how 
our  frend  Mr  scott  is  and  if  he  Continus  their  his  father  and  mother 
and  Brothr  are  well  but  Waltr  Yong  of  Knockban  is  Dead  about  a 
year  agoe. 

May  the  Almigety  God  grant  you  all  peace  of  Consuence  Increass 
of  Grace  and  Joy  and  rejoysing  in  full  hope  and  asurance  through  faith 
in  Jeasus  Crist  of  eternell  Life  from  your  father :  "]•] :  years  ould  the  5th 
day  of  7/br  1755  next  ould  still.* 

Robert  Smith 
these  in  both  peaprs  I  haue  wrot  without  Spectils  and  tells  you  my  wife 
and  all  frends  of  my  famely  Joyns  in  their  Complymts  to  you  you 
please  to  mention  in  your  next  if  so  next  your  wife  if  liueing 
John  armstrong  earnestly  desirs  to  know  if  his  Sistr  and  her  husban 
James  armstrong  be  yet  liueing  if  if  you  can  willm  armstrong  that  has 
the  bearers  mony  is  a  Justice  of  peace  near  new  Castle  and  if  posible  1 
beg  you  may  shew  him  all  the  frendshipe  in  your  pouer  for  he  is  a 
frend  and  a  yong  man  and  your  aduice  and  asistance  is  only  all  he 
wants 


Short  note  to  John  Frazer  from  his  wife  on  her  arrival  at  some 
point  on  the  Delaware,  probably  Chester,  by  sail  boat. 

June  loth  1755 
My  D/r. 

I  got  Safe  here  last  night  abt  8  o.Clock,  have  been  very  well 
Since,  and  have  a  good  appettite,  and  have  heav'd  none,  I  hope  to  hear 
that  you  are  all  well  give  my  Loue  to  all  fr/ds. 

I  am  y/r.  louing  wife  Mary  frazer 

*01d  Style. 

49 


Note  about  the  same  time  from  John's  eldest  son 

D/r.  Father 

I  shall  send  down  p  first  oppertunity  money  for  the  Barrell  of 
Sug/r.  if  you  please  to  send  it  p  first  Conviniency,  you  must  not  be  too 
urgent  for  my  Mothers  going  Home  for  I  believe  I  shall  go  to  Chester 
on  Tuesday  next  Mother  gives  her  love  to  bob  sally  and  Molly  like- 
wise mine 

I  am  y/rs.  Pers/r.  Frazer 

John  Cooper  is  very  ill,  they  dont  expect  h'ell  li  —  (torn) 
To  Mr.  John  Frazer  to  the  Care  of  Mr.  Jno  Curry  on  Society  Hill 
Philad/a 


Deed  of  John  Frazer  and  wife  conveying  to  Wm  Crookshanks  their 
interest  in  the  lands  owned  by  Andrew  Smith  deceased,  Mrs.  Frazer's 
brother 


This  Indenture  made  the  seventh  Day  of  Decem/r  in  the  Yeare  of 
oure  Lord  one  Thousand  seven  Hundred  and  fifty  seven  and  the  thirty 
fourth  first  Yeare  of  the  Reign  of  our  Sovereign  Lord  George  the 
second  by  the  grace  of  God  King  of  Great  Brittan  france  and  Ireland 
and  etca.  Between  John  Frazer  of  the  City  of  Philadelphia  in  the 
Province  of  Penalvanea  shop  keeper  and  Mary  His  wife  (She  being  one 
of  the  sisters  of  Andrew  Smith  late  of  Clenekney  in  the  Parish  of 
Donagh  in  County  of  Monaghan  in  the  Kingdon  of  Ireland  Yeoman 
deceased  Intestate  without  Issue)  of  the  One  parte  and  W/m.  Crook- 
shank  of  Anagola  in  the  said  Parish  of  Donagh  Linnen  weaver  Of  the 
other  Part  Witnesseth  that  the  s/d  John  Freazer  and  Mary  his  wife  for 
and  in  Consider/n  of  the  sum  of  five  Pounds  Stirg  monney  of  Great 
Britt/n;  unto  them  in  Hand  p/dwill  and  truly  p/d,  by  the  sd/  W/m 
Crookshank  at  and  before  the  sealing  and  Delivry  hereof  the  receipt 
wherof  the  s/d  John  Freazer  and  Mary  His  wife  do  hearby  Acknow- 
ledge and  therof  Do  Aquit  and  for  ever  Discharg  the  s/d,  W/m.  Crook- 
shank  his  Hires  Exr/'s  Adm/ers  and  Assignes  and  by  these  Presents 
have  given  granted  bargand  sold  relaced  and  Confirmed  and  by  these 
Presents  the  s/d  John  Freazer  and  Mary  his  wife  do  give  grant  bargan 
sell  and  release  and  Confirm  unto  the  said  W/m  Crookshank  and  to  his 
Hires  and  Assignes  for  Ever  all  and  Every  the  Part  and  Parts  purport 
and  perports  share  and  Divedend  whatsoever  of  them  the  said  John 

50 


Freazer  and  Mary  his  wife  of  in  and  to  all  and  Singuler  the  Lands 
Farems  Tenements  Rents  and  Heredetamt/s.  whereoft  the  said  And/w 
Smith  died  seized  or  posse/d.  or  Intittled  unto  situate  lying  and  bing 
in  Clenekney  and  Caven  in  the  s/d  County  of  Monaghan  or  in  anney 
oth/r.  Part  or  Parts  pleace  orPleaces  in  the  s/d  County  and  Also  all  the 
Estates  Right  Tittle  Interest  use  Possession  property  Clame  and  De- 
mand whatsoever  of  the  said  John  Freazer  and  Marey  his  wife  of  in  and 
to  all  and  Singuler  the  Lands  Farems  and  Tennmts  Rents  and 
Hereditaments  in  the  s/d  County  of  Monaghan  whereof  the  s/d  And/w. 
Smith  died  seized  Poss/d  Intittled  unto  or  to  which  he  Had  Anney 
Right  Tittle  Intrist  Property  Cleem  or  Demand  to  have  and  to  hold 
the  Afors/d  parts  or  Parts  perport  and  perports  share  and  Dividend 
Heredatments  and  Premisses  hearby  granted  or  mention/d  and  in- 
tended to  be  hearby  granted  with  all  and  singular  the  Right  Members 
Heredit/mts  and  Apurtenances  whatsoever  there  unto  Respectivly 
belonging  unto  the  said  W/m  Crookshank  his  Hires  and  Assigns  to  the 
onley  use  and  benefit  behalf  of  Him  the  said  W/m.  Crookshank  h's  hi 
W/m.  Crookshank  His  Hares  and  Assignes  for  ever  and  the  said  John 
Freazer  Doth  hereb(y)  Covenant  for  him  and  his  Hares  and  for  the 
said  Mary  his  wife  and  for  the  Hires  of  the  said  Mary  to  and  with  the 
said  W/m  Crookshank  his  Hires  and  Assignes  that  he  the  said  John 
Freazer  and  Mary  his  wife  and  there  Hires  respectively  and  every  of 
them  the  afores/d  Part  and  Parts  Purport  and  Purtorts  share  and 
Dividend  and  all  and  Singular  Oth/r.  the  Heredita/mts  and  Premes/s, 
hereby  Granted  or  Mention/d  to  be  Granted  with  the  Apurtenances 
unto  the  said  W/m  Crookshank  his  Hires  andAssignesAgainst  him  the 
said  John  Freazer  and  Marey  his  wife  and  his  and  her  Hares  respec- 
tivly and  Against  all  Person  and  Persons  whatsoever  lawfully  Gleam- 
ing 'o  CI or  to  CI or  to  Gleam  by  from  or  under  him  her  them 

Or  anney  of  them  shall  and  will  warrant  and  for  Ever  defend  by  these 
Presents  in  Witness  whereof  the  said  Parties  to  these  presents 
ha — (torn)  set  their  Hands  and  scales  hereunto  Dated  th  s  Day  the  Day 
and  yeare  first  abo — (torn)  Written. 

John  Freazer 

Sealed  and  deliv/d  in  the  Presence  of  us 

Mary  Freazer 

Rich/d  Scott 
Thomas  Dunbar 

The  occupation  of  John  Frazer  is  given  as  "shopkeeper"  in  this 
document,  in  others  as  "Marchand."  In  the  early  days  of  the  Colony 
the  active  citizens  pursued  many  callings  simultaneously,  as  is  the  case 
to-day  in  our  frontier  towns.  But  in  this  respect  the  party  of  the  first 
part  had  no  advantage  over  the  party  of  the  second  part,  his  brother-in- 
law  in  Ireland  who  was  both  "Linnen  weaver"  and  Judge 

SI 


The  following  letter  is  from  Robert  Frazer  (XVI-2)  the  second  son 
of  John  Frazer  (XV-5)  whose  presence  in  DubHn  on  March  8  of  the 
next  year  is  mentioned  in  the  succeeding  letter. 

From  family  traditions  it  is  learned  that  Robert  Frazer  was 
an  active  partner  with  his  Father  and  elder  brother  Persifor  in  their 
commercial  transactions,  and  that  he  was  master  of  the  brigantine 
Ranger  in  which  he  was  lost  at  sea  January  or  February  1763.  The 
latter  papers  consist  of  a  translation  of  the  deposition  of  the  Dutch 
Constable  at  Port  Orange  St  Eustatius;  the  depositions  of  John  Harper 
and  Matthias  Lukens,  Philadelphia  Merchants  who  had  for  some  time 
resided  on  the  island  of  St  Eustatius;  and  two  policies  of  Insurance  on 
the  vessel  (one  canceled  in  favor  of  the  other).  It  would  appear  that 
these  papers  were  prepared  for  the  purpose  of  recovering  the  insurance 
of  the  "Ranger",  and  proving  the  death  of  Robert  Frazer.  It  is  the 
belief  of  the  present  writer  that  the  vessel  was  never  heard  of  after  leav- 
ing Port  Orange.  She  probably  parted  company  with  her  consorts 
and  foundered  at  Sea. 

Kingston  July  21/st  1758 
D/r.  Parents 

I  Wrote  to  you  by  Cap/t.  M'Pherson  Who  Sail'd  a  few  Days 
after  our  Arrival  I  have  not  heard  a  word  from  you  Since  I  have 
been  here  Tho  there  Is  a  Ship  and  Brig  Arrived  fromPhilad/a.  who 
Sail'd  2  Weeks  after  us  I  have  nothing  new  to  tell  you  but  that  I 
am  in  as  good  health  as  ever  I  was  in  my  life  thanks  Be  to  the 
Almighty  for  it  Tho  there  has  not  been  all  hands  well  Since  we  left 
Philad/a.  I  have  Seen  John  Poultney  (and  has  been  several  times 
on  board  with  him  on  nights  afterwork)  who  I  beleive  is  in  a  very 
Good  way  he  is  now  mate  of  a  letter  Marque  Brig  of  12  Guns 
bound  to  the  Spanish  Main  and  is  to  Sail  in  2  or  3  Days  he  is  well 
in  health  I  have  Got  a  letter  from  him  to  Jeny  he  Desires  you 
would  Do  what  lay  in  your  Power  as  to  the  Prize  money  I  Beleive 
we  shal  Sail  in  about  2  Weeks  full  of  Rum  Sugar  and  molasses 
My  venture  turns  out  but  Poorly  Soap  is  55  S  pr  C  Remember 
me  to  Peirce  Sally  and  Nancy  and  to  all  Inquiring  Freinds  I  am 
D/r  Parents 

you  Ever  Ever  Afectionate  Son 

Robert  Frazer 
Endorsed         from  Robert  Frazer 

Kingston  July  21/st  1758 
52 


The  following  is  the  second  letter  of  Judge  Crookshanks  to  his 
brother-in-law  John  Frazer  since  the  execution  of  the  deed  in  the 
former's  favor  fifteen  months  before.  The  first  letter  was  not  pre- 
served. 


Annagola  March  the  19th,  1759 
Dr.  S,r, 

I  recuied  yours  this  Day  Deated  the  9th  of  January  1758  which 
always  giues  me  pleasur,  to  hear  of  you  and  your,  fami,ly,  well- 
feare  I  also,  Reed  on  from  you  Son  Robert  at  the  Same  time  how  is  now 
Landed  safe  in  Dublin  in  or  about  the  eight  of  march,  I  have  this  Day 
wrote  to  him,  and  tould  him  I  had  at  that  preasant  an  oppor- 
tunity of  writing  to  his  father  Dr  Brother  I  now  oune  my  Self 
under  many  obligations  to  you,  but  more  in  pertickallar  for  your 
care  in  sending  me  the  Deed  of  glennicken  and  Cauen,  I  also, 
Return  mrs,  frazer  thanks  for  hir  willingness  to  Serue  me  I  wish  it 
euery  may  be  in  my  power  to  serue  hir,  or  hir  Intrust,  I  am 
now  in  heast  for  feare  of  mising  this  unexpected  opportunity,  but 
shall  endeauour  to  answer  your  Letter  in  full  on  the  return  of 
your  son  Robert  I  Reed  the  Deed  and  your  Letter  from  Mr 
John  Scoot  which  Mr  Richard  Scoot  Deliuered  to  him  safe,  as  to  the 
goodness  of  the  Deed  I  can  not  yet  tell  you,  for  I  haue  not  as  yet  maid 
any  proceedings  in  that  afifeare,  and  the  only  reason  is,  there  is  still  yet 
Since  the  Death  of  my  father  in  Law  a  greate  misunderstanding  between 
my  mother  in  law  and  me  and  John  Greason,  and  (the)refore  untill  we 
agree  amongst  Our  Selves,  it  is  vain  to  Commence  a  Sute  (ag)ainst 
Smith,  I  shall  in  my  next  Let  you  Know  part  of  thire  proceedings 
(ag)ainst  me,  which  will  surprize  you,  I  shall  at  this  time  only  tell  you, 
in  the  modest  way  of  speaking  that  my  mother  in  law  and  John 
Greason,  outwitted  me  of  50  lb  Str.  which  was  my  wifes  fortune,  for 
which  reason  my  mother  in  law  and  Salle  is  not  yet  on  Speaking  terms, 
I  now  liue  on  the  Lands  of  annagola  and  has  all  my  fathers  Land  which 
he  resined  to  me,  and  is  yet  Liueing  and  my  mother,  my  father  is  now 
96:  years  ould  they  haue  a  house  Just  beside  mine,  I  have  now  foure 
Greason,  outwited  me  of  50  lb  Str.  which  was  my  wifes  fortune,  for 
cease  of  my  father  in  law  the  Lands  of  Cleare  was  sould  sum  part  of 
them  which  I  bought,  the  other  part  I  had  by  a  contract  of  mariage, 
but  there  was  a  deed  of  morgas  seet  up  against  me  by  John  Greason 
made  to  him  by  my  father  inlaw  for  52  lb  Str  which  I  was  than 
Obliged  to  pay  for  my  oune  right,  I  now  enjoy  all  the  Lands  of  Cleare, 
you  see  at  a  very  high  Expence,  and  notwithstanding  that  my  mother 
in  law  was  my  greate  Enimey  I  havei  given  hir  Dureing  hir  owne  Live 
Seven  Eakers  of  the  Land  and  the  house  at  the  Standing  rent  and  I 

53 


also  giue  hir  one  cow  with  seueral,  other  nessareys,  this  I  did  on  Salle, 
account,  Jane  armstrong  and  tow  Children  is  liueing  with  her  mother  in 
Clcare,  1  have  a  Mault  Kill  going  in  Cleare  and  now  has  John  Arm- 
strong for  my  mault  man,  Jane  Armstrong  has  three  more  children 
sum  of  them  at  treads,  John  Morrison  Lines  in  the  same  please  and  is 
Doing  very  well.  As  for  John  Greason  and  his  wife  thy  are  well  and 
in  a  very  good  way  they  haue  six  Children,  as  for  Alexander  Smith  him 
and  his  family  is  all  well,  as  for  Robert  his  Son  he  hues  in  the  County 
of  Doune  and  is  Extreamly  well  marred,  as  for  my  Sister  Matte  she 
always  Lines  with  me  frriee,  and  is  Extreamly  well.  She  is  a  friend 
home  I  greatly  Esteem  and  regard  and  is  Doing  very  well  her  husband 
is  yet  Lining.  I  am  tould  that  John  Greason  and  Alexander  Smith 
are  both,  writing  to  you  with  this  opportunity  which  I  beliue  is  one 
Mr  Mathes  and  one  Mr  Lebourn,  tho,  i  am  unacquainted  with  them, 
but  I  believe  John  Greason  and  them  are  acquainted,  I  was  tould  that 
Mr  Mathes  Bought  some  white  Cloath  from  John  Greason,  I  hop  you 
will  giue  my  Compliments  to  all  Enquiring  friends,  and  I  and  my 
family  Joynes  with  our  Kind  Respeacts,  to  you  and  yours,  which  all  at 
preasent  from  your,  Sincear  and  most  Afifectioned  Brother 

William  Crookshanks 
P.  S. 

I  wrote  to  you  before 
this  since  I  Reed  the  Deed 

Mr  John  frazer 
Marchand  in  Philadelppi —  (torn) 


The  following  letters  were  written  by  Robert  Frazer  during  the 
voyage  from  which  he  never  returned 


Nov.  1 6.  1762 

Cape  henlopen  Nov/r.  i6/th:  1762 
D/r.  Father 

We  are  got  this  farr  without  meeting  With  any  thing  material 
we  have  got  a  fine  Northerly  Wind  and  have  had  Extriordinary 
Luck  hitherto  and  hope  it  will  Continue  We  seem  to  be  all 

very  sociable  and  hope  it  will  Continue  our  Vessel  sails  very  fast 
I  think  faster  than  ever  I  have  sailed  yet    M/r.  Bartholomew  Is 

54 


well  and  sends  his  Compliments  to  you  all    Give  my  love  to  my 

mother  Peirce  Sally  Nancy  and  Jack  and  my  Compliments  to  all 

Inquireing  Friends  I  am  D/r.  Father 

Remember  me  to  Fargu  Your  loving  Son 

M.Ilvaine  and  tell  him  Robert  Frazer 

the  Polacio  went  to  Sea 

6  Days  ago 

The  Sloop  George  Jenkins  went  in    lost  both  her  Anchors  and 

Cables  in  the  Bay  and  Intended  to  go  to  Bermudas  to  get  others 

so  we  hope  to  be  at  our  market  before  them. 

Addressed  To 

M/r.  John  Frazer 
On  Society  hill 

Philadelphia 


S.  Eusthis  Janur.y  5/th.  1763 
D/r.  Pirce 

I  have  not  Recivd  a  line  from  you  Since  I  left  you  altho  there 
was  several  Vessels  Arr'vd  at  S.  Kitts  from  Philad/a. 

The  Bills  of  Exchange  gives  me  a  great  Deal  of  Uneasiness 
bethe  (?)  I  am  afraid  its  being  safe  as  to  the  Drawers  we  have  Met 
with  pretty  good  markets  but  I  shall  never  chuse  to  come  with 
Mr  Bartholomew  again  for  Reasons  I  shall  tell  you  if  ever  I  see 
you  again  we  have  bought  a  Brig  here  and  have  got  in  a  load  of 
salt  and  Intend  for  Carolina  when  ever  we  have  a  Certainty  of  a 
peace  which  we  Expect  every  day  my  my  Complimts  to  M/r.  Mc- 
Mutrie  and  Family  and  all  Inquiring  friends  I  am  D/r.  Pierce  your 
loving  Brother 

Robert  Frazer 
Addressed  to  M/r.  Persifor  Frazer 


Official  certificate  of  the  clearance  of  the  "Ranger"  Capt.  Robert 
Frazer  from  St.  Eustatius,  Jan.  17.  1763: 

Translation O I  the  Subscriber  Cornelius  Lispier  being 

the  Sworn  Constable  of  Fort  Orange  on  the  Island  of  St  Eustatius 
do  hereby  declare  to  all  persons  whom  it  may  concern  to  be  true 
and  f?act  That  the  Brigan  tyne  called  Raingor  Commanded  by 
Captain  Robber  Frecher  Sailed  from  this  Port  for  South  CaroHna 

55 


agreable  to  his  own  Declaration  on  the  Seventeenth  Day  of  Jan. 
1763,  having  first  paid  the  Customs  and  Duties  at  the  aforesaid 
For  Orange. 

St.  Eustatius  the  first  of  October  1764. 

(Signed)  Corn.  Lispier 
(Seal)  Constable. 

Translated  from  the  Netherlandish  original 
Philad/d.  Octob/r.  30/th.  1764. 

Pr  me  L.  Weiss 


City  of  Philadelphia  Ss" 

Be  it  Remembered  that  on  the  Twelfth  day  of 
December  in  the  year  of  Our  Lord  One  thousand  Seven  hundred 
and  Sixty  four,  Before  me  James  Humphreys  Esq/r.  Notary  and 
Tabellion  Public  of  the  Province  of  Pennsilvania,  by  lawful  au- 
thority duly  admitted  and  Sworn,  dwelling  in  the  City  of  Philadel- 
phia in  the  said  Province ;  and  One  of  His  Majestys  Justices  of 
the  Peace  for  the  City  and  County  of  Philadelphia;  personally 
appeared  Lewis  Weiss  of  the  said  City  Gentleman,  and  being 
Sworn  on  the  Holy  Evangelists  of  almighty  God  did  Depose,  Tes- 
tify, Declare  and  Say  That  the  above  writing  is  a  Just  and  true 
Translation  of  an  Original  Certificate  in  the  Hollands  Language 
written,  by  him  this  deponent  Translated  into  the  English  Lan- 
guage, according  to  the  best  of  his  Skill  Knowledge  and  ability,  at 
the  Request  of  Mess/rs.  Benjamin  Davis  and  Thomas  Bartholo- 
mew of  the  said  City  Merchants 

L  Weiss 

In  Testimony  whereof  I  the  said  Notary  have  hereunto  Set 
my  hand  and  affixed  my  Seal  of  Ofifice  of  Notary  at  Philadel- 
phia aforesaid  the  Day  month  and  year  above  written 
Ja/s  Humphreys  Not/his  Fub/cus 

1764  [Seal] 

City  of  Philad/a.  Ss  ' ' 

Be  it  Remembered  That  on  the  Twenty  seventh 
(lay  of  February  in  the  Year  of  Our  Lord  1764,  Before  me  James 
Humphreys  Esq/r.  Notary  and  Tabellion  Public  of  the  Province  of 

56 


Pennsilvania,  by  lawful  Authority  duly  admitted  and  Sworn, 
dwelling  in  the  City  of  Philadelphia,  in  the  said  Province,  and 
One  of  His  Majesty's  Justices,  the  Peace  within  the  City  and 
County  of  Philadelphia  to  keep,  assigned;  personally  appeared 
John  Harper  and  Mathias  Lukens,  both  of  the  said  City  of  Phila- 
delphia Merchants,  and  being  severally  Sworn  on  the  Holy  Evan- 
gelists of  Almighty  God  did  respectively  depose  Testifie  declare 
and  say,  that  is  to  say,  The  said  John  Harper  deposeth  and  saith. 
That  he  resided  on  the  Island  of  S/t.  Eustatius  from  the  first  day 
of  January  in  the  Year  of  Our  Lord  One  thousand  seven  hundred 
and  Sixty  three,  and  untill  about  y/e  Eighteenth  day  of  the  same 
month  Jany.  ;That  he  well  knew  and  was  personally  acquainted  with 
Robert  Frazier  and  Austin  Bartholomew ;  who  were  both  on  the 
said  Island,  from  the  aforesaid  first  day  of  January  and  untill  the 
Seventeenth  or  eighteenth  day  of  the  same  month,  the  said 
Robert  Frazier  being  master  of  a  certain  Brigantine  Called  the 
Ranger,  and  lying  in  the  Harbour  of  S/t.  Eustatius,  and  the  s/d. 
Austin  Bartholomew  Supra  Cargo  on  board  the  s/d.  Brig/t. ; 
That  this  deponent  was  frequently  (almost  every  day)  in  Company 
with  the  s/d.  Robert  Frazier  and  Austin  Bartholomew,  during 
the  Time  of  their  stay  on  the  said  Island  and  frequently  heard 
the  s/d.  Robert  Frazier  and  Austin  Bartholomew  say,  they 
bought  the  s/d.  Brigantine  in  S/t.  Eustatius  aforesaid  and  had 
loaded  her  with  Salt  and  other  merchandise,  and  were  going  in 
and  with  the  sd.  Brigantine  from  thence,  to  Charlestown  in 
South  Carolina ;  that  he  this  deponent  Saw  them  prepare  to  sail 
in  company  with  two  armed  Sloops,  bound  for  Providence  and 
that  they  did  actually  sail  in  and  with  the  said  Brigantine  from 
S/t.  Eustatius  afs/d.  on  or  about  the  Seventeenth  or  eigh- 
teenth day  of  January  afs/d.  bound  to  the  aforesaid  Port  of 
Charles  town ;  and  lastly  that  the  s/d.  Brigantine  had  eight  or  ten 
carraige  Guns  (four  Pounders  as  this  deponent  thinks)  mounted ; 
Also  Several  Small  Arms  and  other  Warlike  Stores  on  board. 
And  the  s/d.  Mathias  Lukens  deposeth  and  saith  That  on  or  about 
the  afs/d.  Seventeenth  day  of  Januery,  he  the  s/d.  Mathias 
Lukens  being  then  on  the  said  Island  of  S/t.  Eustatius  Saw  the 
s/d.  Robert  Frazier  and  Austin  Bartholomew  Sail  in  and  with  the 
s/d.  Brigantine,  from  the  s/d.  Island;  that  the  s/d.  Frazier  and 
Bartholomew  (some  little  time  before  the  s/d.  Brigantine  Sailed 
from  S/t.  Eustatia  as  afs/d.)  told  this  deponent  they  had 
eighteen  hundred  Bushells  of  Salt  and  about  Thirty  or  forty  Cases 
of  Geneva  on  board  the  s/d.  Br:g/t.,  and  that  they  were  bound  for 
Charlestown  in  South  Carolina;  and  that  the  s/d.  Brigantine 
sailed   in   Company  with   two   sloops   one   of  which   was   of  no 

57 


force,  Pratt  Master ;  the  other  a  Letter  of  Marque  mount- 

ing fourteen  Carraige  Guns  Joseph  Thompson  Commander  and 
further  that  the  s/d.  Brig/t.  was  regularly  cleared  out  as  this 
deponent  was  informed. 

John  Harper 

Matthias   Lueken 

In  Testimonium  Veritatis 
Ja/s.  Humphreys  Not/ius  Pub/cus 

1764 
Endorsed 

Depositions  of  John  Harper  and  Matthias  Lukens 
27/th  Feb/y.  1764 


Policy  of  insurance  on  the  vessel  and  cargo  of  the  sloop  "Ranger. 

Whereas,     We,  Bartholomew  and  Frazer 

as  well  in  our  own  Name,  as  for  and  in  the  Name  and  Names  of  all 
and  every  other  Person  or  Persons,  to  whom  the  same  doth,  may, 
or  shall  appertain,  in  part  or  in  all,  doth  make  Assurance,  and 
causeth  ourselves  and  them,  and  every  of  them  to  be  insured  (lost 
or  not  lost)  at  and  from  Philad/a.  to  S/t.  Eustatia 
upon  all  kinds  of  lawful  Goods  and  Merchandizes,  Loaden,  or  to 
be  loaden  aboard  the  good  Sloop  called  the  Ranger  whereof  is 
Master  for  this  present  Voyage  Outerbridge  or  whosoever  else 
shall  go  for  Master  in  the  said  Sloop  or  by  whatever  other  Name 
or  Names  the  same  Sloop  or  the  Master  thereof,  is,  or  shall  be 
named  or  called.  Beginning  the  Adventure  upon  the  said  lawful 
Goods  and  Merchandizes,  from  and  immediately  following  the 
Loading  thereof  on  board  the  said  Sloop  at  Philadelphia  afore- 
said, and  so  shall  continue  and  endure,  until  the  said  Goods  and 
Merchandizes  shall  be  safely  landed  at  S/t.  Eustatia  aforesaid. 
And  it  shall  and  may  be  lawful  for  the  said  Sloop  in  her  Voyage,  to 
jjioceed  and  sail  to,  touch  and  stay  at  any  Ports  or  Places,  if 
thereunto  obliged  by  Stress  of  Weather,  or  other  unavoidable 

58 


Accident,  without  Prejudice  to  this  Insurance.  Touching  the 
Adventures  and  Perils,  which  we  the  Assurers  are  contented  to 
bear,  and  do  take  upon  us  in  this  Voyage ;  they  are,  of  the  Seas, 
Men  of  War,  Fires,  Enemies,  Pirates,  Rovers,  Thieves,  Jettesons,  Let- 
ters of  Mart  and  Counter  Mart,  Suprisals,  Taking  at  Sea,  Arrests,  Re- 
straints, and  Detainments  of  all  Kings,  Princes  or  People,  of  zvhat 
Nation,  Condition,  or  Quality  Soever,  Barratry  of  the  Master  and  Ma- 
riners, and  all  other  Perils,  Losses  and  Misfortunes,  that  have  or 
shall  come  to  the  Hurt,  Detriment,  or  Damage  of  the  said  Goods 
or  Merchandizes,  or  any  part  thereof.  And  in  case  of  any  Losses 
or  Misfortunes,  it  shall  be  lawful  to  and  for  the  Assured,  their 
Factors,  Servants  and  Assigns,  to  sue,  labour  and  travel  for,  in 
and  about  the  Defence,  Safeguard  and  Recovery  of  the  said 
Goods  or  Merchandize,  or  any  Part  thereof,  without  Prejudice  to 
this  Insurance,  to  the  Charges  whereof  we  the  Assurers  will  con- 
tribute, each  one  according  to  the  Rate  and  Quanity  of  his  Sum 
herein  assured.  And  it  is  agreed  by  us  the  Assurers,  that  this 
Writing  or  Policy  of  Assurance,  shall  be  of  as  much  Force  and 
Eilect  as  the  surest  Writing  or  Policy  of  Assurance  heretofore 
made  in  Lombard-Street,  or  elsewhere  in  LONDON.  And  so 
we  the  Assurers  are  contented  and  hereby  promise  and  bind  our- 
selves, each  one  for  his  own  Part,  our  Heirs,  Executors  and  Goods 
to  the  Assured,  their  Executors,  Administrators  and  Assigns,  for 
the  true  Performance  of  the  Premises,  confessing  ourselves  paid 
the  Consideration  due  unto  us  for  the  Assurance,  by  the  said  As- 
sured, or  their  Assigns,  at  the  Rate  of  Nine  Pr  Cent 
And  in  Case  of  Loss,  the  Assured  is  to  abate  Tzvo  Pounds  per  Cent, 
and  such  Loss  to  be  paid  in  three  Months  after  Proof  thereof. 
And  it  is  agreed  that  if  any  Dispute  shall  arise,  relatmg  to  a  Loss 
on  this  Policy,  it  shall  be  referred  to  two  indifferent  Persons,  one 
to  be  Chosen  by  the  Assured,  the  other  by  the  Assurer  or  As- 
surers, who  shall  have  full  Power  to  adjust  the  same;  but  m  Case 
they  cannot  agree,  then  two  such  Persons  shall  chuse  a  Third,  and 
any  two  of  them  agreeing,  shall  be  Obligatory  to  both  parties.  In 
Witness  whereof,  we  the  Assurers  have  subscribed  our  Names 
and  Sums  assured  in  Philadelphia,  the  Twelfth  Day  of  November 
One  Thousand,  Seven  Hundred,  and  fifty  two  ,  ^  .   ,   r^.  , 

N  B  Salt,  Wheat,  Indian  Corn,  Peas,  Malt,  and  Dried  tish 
stozv'd  in  Bidk,  Tobacco  in  Casks,  are  warranted  free  from  Aver- 
age unless  General  or  the  Ship  be  stranded.  All  other  Goods  free 
from  Average,  under  Five  Pounds  per  Cent,  unless  General, 
or  the  be  stranded.     The  Assured  shall  allozv  the  Office- 

keeper  or  Broker,  Half  per  Cent  for  his  Trouble  in  collecting  any 
Loss  tliat  may  happen  on  this  Policy,  paying  tlie  same  m  due  1  ime, 
and  registering  it  in  the  Office-Books. 

59 


L  200  Two  hundred  pounds  Baynton  and  Wharton 
100-one  Hundred  pounds 
100  One  Hundred  poimds 
£    100  One  hundred  pounds  Daniel  Clark 
£    200  Two  hun/d.  pounds  James  and  Drinker 
£    100  One  hundred  Pounds  Hen  Harrison 
£    100  One  hundred  pounds  Conyngham  and  Nesbitt 
£     100  One  hundred  pounds  Sam/1.  Mifihn 
£    100  One  Hundred  pounds  Charles  Jones 
£    100  One  hundred  Pounds  Theo.  and  Rich/d  Bache 
(In  writing  on  the  back) 
City  of  Philadelphia  Ss  ' ' 

The  Thirtieth  day  of  December  in  the 
Year  of  Our  Lord  One  thousand  seven  hundred  and  sixty  three 
Before  me  James  Humphreys  Esq/r.  Notary  and  Tabellion  Public 
of  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania,  by  lawful  authority  duly  admitted 
and  Sworn  dwelling  in  the  City  of  Philadelphia  in  the  Province, 
and  One  of  his  Majesty's  Justices  the  peace  within  the  City  and 
County  of  Philadelphia  to  keepAssignes;  personally  appearedM/r. 
Walter  Shee  of  the  said  City  Insurance  broker,  and  made  Oath  on 
the  Holy  Evangelists  of  Almighty  God,  That  the  within  Instru- 
ment in  Writing  or  Policy  of  Insurance  is  a  just  true  and  Original 
Policy  of  Assurance,  by  him  this  deponent  and  Sons  his  Co-part- 
ners procured  to  be  underwrote  in  their  Insurance  Ofifice  in  the 
said  City ;  for  and  upon  account  of  the  therein  named  Mess/rs. 
Bartholomew  and  Frazier 

Walter  Shee 
In  Testimony  whereof  I  the  said  Notary,  have  hereunto 
set  my  Hand  and  afiixed  my  Seal  of  Office  at  Philadel- 
phia aforesaid  the  day  and  Year  above  written 
Ja/s  Humphreys  Not/ius  Pub/cus 

1763 
Endorsed  Policy 

Sloop  Ranger  Outerbridge 
Mr.  from  Philad/a. 
to  S/t.  Eustatia 

Bartholomew  And  Frazer 

£   1200  Goods  @  9  pr  C/t.         f   108  .  . 

Policy  5  •  • 


£  108 


Reg/d.  in  Book  G.  fol  21 
Walt/r  Shee  and  Sons 

60 


Policy  of  insurance  on  the  furniture  and  equipment  of  a  brig  un- 
named, but  probably  the  "Ranger" 

WHereas  We  Benj/a:  Davis,  Austin  and  Tho/s  Bartholomew 
and  Rob/t  Fraizer  as  well  in  our  Name,  as  for  and  in  the  Name 
and  Names  of  all  and  every  other  Person  or  Persons,  to  whom  the 
same  doth,  may  or  shall  appertain,  in  Part  or  in  all  doth  make  As- 
surance and  causeth  ourselves  and  them  and  every  of  them  to  be 
Insured,  lost  or  not  lost,  at  and  from  St  Eustatia  To  Charles  Town 
South  Carolina. 

upon  the  Body,  Tackle,  Apparel  and  other  Furniture  of  the  good 

Brig  called  the  of  the  Burden  of 

Tons  or  thereabouts,  whereof  is  Master  under  GOD,  for  the  pres- 
ent Voyage  Robert  Fraizer  or  whosoever  else  shall  go  for  Master 
in  the  said  Ship,  or  by  whatsoever  other  Name  or  Names  said 
Ship,  or  the  Master  thereof,  is,  or  shall  be  named  or  called,  be- 
ginning the  Adventure  upon  the  said  Ship,  Tackle,  Apparel,  etc.  at 
and  from  St  Eustatia  aforesaid,  and  so  shall  continue  and  endure 
until  the  said  Ship  shall  be  safely  arrived  at  South  Carolina 
aforesaid,  and  untill  she  be  moored  Twenty  and  Four  Hours  in 
good  Safety.  And  it  shall  and  may  be  lawful  for  the  said  Ship  in 
her  Voyage  to  proceed  and  sail  to,  touch  and  stay  at  any  Ports  or 
Places,  if  thereunto  obliged  by  Stress  of  Weather,  or  other  un- 
avoidable Accident,  without  Prejudice  to  this  Insurance.  The 
said  Ship,  Tackle,  etc.  for  so  much  as  it  concerns  the  Assured  by 
Agreement  made  between  the  Assured  and  the  Assurers  in  this 
Policy,  are  and  shall  be  valued  at  Eight  Hundred  Pounds 
without  any  further  Account  to  be  given  by  the  Assured  to  the 
Assurers,  or  any  of  them  for  the  same.  Touching  the  Adventures 
and  Perils,  which  we  the  Assurers  are  contented  to  bear,  and  do 
take  upon  us  in  this  Voyage,  they  are,  of  the  Seas,  Men  of  War, 
Fires,  Enemies,  Pirates,  Rovers,  Theives,  Jettisons,  Letters  of  Mart, 
and  Counter  Mart,  Siirprisals,  Taking  at  Sea,  Arrests,  Restraints  and 
Detainments,  of  all  Kings,  Princes,  or  People  of  what  Nation,  Condi- 
tion or  Quality  soever.  Barratry  of  the  Master  and  Mariners,  and  all 
other  Perils,  Losses  and  Misfortunes,  that  have  or  shall  come  to 
the  Hurt,  Detriment  or  Damage  of  the  said  Ship  or  Part  thereof. 
And  in  case  of  any  Loss  or  Misfortunes,  it  shall  be  lawful  to  and 
for  the  Assured  their  Factors,  Servants,  and  Assigns,  to  sue, 
labour  and  travel  for,  in  and  about  the  Defence,  Safeguard  and  Re- 
covery of  the  said  Ship  or  any  Part  thereof  without  Prejudice  to 
this  Insurance,  to  the  Charges  whereof  we  the  Assurers  will  con- 
tribute each  one,  according  to  the   Rate  and   Quantity  of  his 

6i 


Sum  herein  Insured.  And  it  is  agreed  by  us  the  Assurers,  that 
this  Writing  or  Policy  of  Insurance,  shall  be  of  as  much  Force  and 
EfTect,  as  the  surest  Writing  or  Policy  of  Assurance  heretofore 
made  in  Lombard-Street,  or  elsewhere  in  LONDON.  And, 
so  we  the  Assurers  are  contented,  and  do  hereby  promise  and 
bind  ourselves  each  one  for  his  own  Part,  our  Heirs,  Executors, 
and  Goods,  to  the  Assured,  their  Executors,  Administrators  and 
Assigns,  for  the  true  Performance  of  the  Premisses,  confessing  our- 
selves paid  the  Consideration  due  unto  us  for  the  Assurance,  by 
the  said  Assured  or  their  Assigns  at  and  after  the  Rate  of  Nine 
Pounds  per  Cent,  and  in  Case  of  Loss,  the  Assured  to  abate  Two 
per  Cent. 

In  IVitncss  whereof  WE  the  Assurers  have  subscribed  our 
Names  and  Sums  Assured  in  Philadelphia  the  Twenty  First  Day  of 
February  One  Thousand  Seven  Hundred  and  Sixty  Three 

Memorandum.  //  is  agreed  by  and  between  the  Assured  and  As- 
surers, that  no  Loss  shall  be  paid  on  any  Average  under  Five 
Pounds  per  Cent  unless  the  said  Average  be  General.  And  in 
Case  of  Loss  the  Assured  sliall  allow  the  Ofdce  Keeper  or 
Broker  One  half  per  Cent,  for  his  Trouble  in  collecting  and 
paying  the  same  in  due  Time,  and  rcgistring  it  in  his  office. 
It  is  further  agreed  that  if  any  Dispute  shall  arise,  relating  to  a 
Loss  on  this  POLICY,  it  shall  be  referred  to  tivo  indifferent 
Persons,  one  to  be  chosen  by  the  Assured,  the  otlier  by  the  As- 
surer or  Assurers,  who  shall  have  full  Power  to  adjust  the 
same;  but  in  Case  they  cannot  agree  then  such  tivo  Persons  shall 
chuse  a  Tliird  and  any  two  of  them  agreeing,  shall  be  Obligatory 
to  both  Parties. 

It  is  agreed  also  between  Assured  and  Assurers,  That  in  Case  of 
Loss  the  Money  shall  be  paid  in  three  Months  after  Proof  made 
of  the  same. 

(In  writing) 

N.B.     Whereas  Austin  Bartholomew  wrote  from  St  Eustatis  to 
Tho/s  Bartholomew  in  South  Carolina  to  make  the  above  Insur- 
ance It  is  hereby  agreed  that  if  the  above  Insurance  is  made  in 
Carolina,  then  this  shall  be  void  except  one  Half  pr  C/t. 
(In  writing  on  the  back) 

City  of  Philadelphia  SS. 

The  Thirtieth  day  of  December  in  the  year  of  Our 
Lord  One  thousand  seven  huidred  and  Sixty  three  Before  James 
Humphreys  Esq.  Notary  and  Tabellion  public  of  the  Province  of 

62 


Pennsilvania  by  lawful  Authority  duly  admitted  and  sworn  dwell- 
ing in  the  City  of  Philadelphia  in  the  said  Province  and  One  of 
His  Majesty's  Justices,  the  Peace  within  the  City  and  County  of 
Philadelphia  to  keep  assigned  Personally  appeared  William  Brad- 
ford of  the  said  City  Insurance  Broker  and  made  Oath  on  the 
Holy  Evangelists  of  Almighty  God  That  the  within  Instrument  in 
writing  or  Pollicy  of  Insurance  is  a  Just  true  and  Original  Pollicy 
of  assurance,  by  him  this  deponent  and  his  Copartner  John  Kidd 
Procured  to  be  Underwrote  in  their  Insurance  office  in  the  said 
City;  for  and  upon  account  of  Mess/r.  Benjamin  Davis  Austin 
and  Thomas  Bartholomew  and  Robert  Fraizer  therein  named : 
That  after  the  said  Insurance  was  so  made  as  aforesaid ;  the  Pre- 
miums paid  thereon  (one  half  pr  Cent  excepted)  were  Returned  to 
the  said  Benjamin  Davis  Austin  and  Thomas  Bartholomew  and 
Robert  Fraizer  and  the  said  Pollicy  Cancelled  Proof  being  made 
of  the  said  Insurance  being  Efifected  in  South  Carolina  and  that 
there  was  no  oth«=r  Insurance  made  in  the  said  office  by  the^xBen- 
jamin  Davis  Austin  and  Thomas  Bartholomew  and  Robert  Fraizer 
or  Either  of  them  upon  the  Body  Tackle  apparell  and  other  Fur- 
niture of  the  within  mentioned  Brigantine  on  the  said  Voyage  ex- 
cept the  Insurance  made  as  aforesaid  and  further  saith  not 

W/m.  Bradford 

In  Testimony  whereof  I  have  hereunto  Set  my  hand  and 
affixed  my  Seal  of  office  of  Notary  at  Philadelphia  aforesaid 
the  day  and  year  above  written 
Ja/s  Humphreys  Not/ius  Pub/cus 

1768 

Endorsed         Policy  Brig/t.     Robert  Frazer  w.  from  S/t  Eaustatia  to 
South  Carolinea     Benj/a  Davis  and  Co. 

Vessel  fSoo.  9  Pr  C       "j^. 
Policy  5 

£  72-5 

regst/d.  In  Book  B  fo  61 
for  Thidd  J.  Bradford     W/m  Smith 
April  30/th  1763  policy  Canceled  and  prem.  returned  the  Insur- 
ance being  made  in  S/o  Carolinea  on  £  800.  8  1/2  Pr  C     £  68. 
office  fees  on  £800.  2/6  Pr  C     20/ 

regst/d  In  Book  B  fo  172 
for  Thidds  Bradford 
W/m  Smith 

63 


The  following  papers  belonging  to  John  Frazer  (b.  1709)  have  been 
preserved 

A  small  book  with  a  parchment  cover  much  worn  and  torn,  6"  x  4". 
It  has  a  pen-printed  title  with  crudely  painted  yellow  lined  upper  and 
lower  border.     The  right  hand  edge  of  this  title  and  all  the  following 
leaves  are  torn  so  that  the  3d  and  4th  figures  of  the  century  number  are 
obliterated.     It  reads 
M 
loHn  Fraz — '  (torn) 
This  Vocal  Musick  Boo — (torn) 
Made  Decm/e  the  i8th  172 — (torn) 

It  probably  was  made  in  Ireland  in  the  seventeen  twenties.     It  has 
28  leaves. 

The  first  is  a  sort  of  dedicatory  rhyme 
The  next  page  3,  colored  "The  Gamut  or  scale  of  Music,, 
5,  "Some  plain  Songs",  6,  and  7,  Directions;  9,  rhymes 
II,  French  tune;  13,  London  tune;  15,  York  tune;  17,  Dundee  tune; 
19,  Elgine  tune;  21,  Dublin  tune;  23,  Martyrs  tune;  25,  Abby's  tune; 
27,  St.  David's  tune;  29,  Newtown  tune;  31,  St.  Mary's  tune;  33,  A 
propr  tune;  35,  Rochell  tunc;  37,  Divine  Glorian — (torn);  39,  The  tip- 
pling Philos — (torn).     This  latter  runs  over  10  pp  (5  leaves).     The  last 
in  the  book  is  'Quaker's  song'  also  ten  pages  (5  leaves)  long,  but  very 
badly  torn. 


An  account  book  and  numerous  papers  connected  with  the  settle- 
ment as  sole  surviving  Executor  of  the  estate  of  Richard  Bayly  dec'd. 


The  following  is  on  a  loose  sheet  of  paper :  author  unknown. 

My  plough  Sir  if  you  please  to  know 
was  made  to  Stand,  not  for  to  go 
Though  Horses  from  it  Chuse  to  Run 
Yet  fools  they  Seldom  Do  It  Shun 
Lett  the  first  Run  I  Little  Matter 
I  make  More  proffit  by  the  latter 
My  Plough  to  Horse's  I'le  near  Bind 
While  fools  and  Ases  are  so  Kind 

For  those  with  pleasure  lay  their  Scheam 

64 


For  those  Delight  and  Lay  their  Scheam 

To  yoak  themselves  Into  my  team 

And  I  as  Much  them  for  to  Drive 

Since  by  Such  policy  I  thrive 

But  when  away  they  Seem  to  Start 

I  have  a  Whip  to  Make  them  Smart 

Which  Sometimes  pips  as  Sharp  as  frost 

And  oft  Skin  and  Blood  and  Snot  does  Cost 

And  then  they  Set  their  wit's  to  work 

To  Break  my  Plough  all  at  a  Jerk 

And  for  a  while  they  '1  Seem  So  Shy 

As  if  my  plough  they'd  N'ear  Come  Nigh 

Yet  Notwithstanding  this  be  true 

And  they  Loose  horse  and  Sadie  too 

To  Seek  the  Horses  my  plough  '1  not  Budge 

But  Let  the  fool  a  foot  to  Trudge 

My  plough's  so  Strong  and  grown  so  high 

And  their  witt  so  weak  I  it  Defie 

for  I've  a  Balsam  of  Such  Sort 

they'l  Soon  Again  to  me  resort 

T'.will  Heal  old  Soers  and  New  ones  Make 

\Vith  Thank  you  Will,  they  do  it  take 

The  Gel  .  .  on  Plough  that  Never  Went 

have  Match'd  the  fool  that  gaind  Consent 

And  Lay'd  the  Scheam  by  which  Shee  Stodd 

from  whence  Shee  thought  Shee  Ever  Shoud 

His  Horse  is  Run  and  Left  the  plough 

And  he  por  fool,  a  foot  I  Vow — 

A  frosty  Night  Twas  bad  for  Shoes 

and  ten  times  worse  for  his  poor  toes 

first  went  the  Shoes,  and  then  the  Skin 

The  flesh  left  Bare  that  was  within— 

What  Chance  have  that  with  Ice  and  frost 

But  Blood  and  Snot  to  pay  the  Cost 

But  Notwithstanding  that  is  true 

He's  Safe  at  home  and  that  Shall  Doe 

He'l  Make  the  plough  go  find  the  Horse 

And  then  Declare  he's  Clear  of  Loss 

for  let  the  Skin  and  Blood  thats  gon 

Secure  the  Other  from  such  wrong 

And  then  it  Senters  all  for  good 

And  Makes  an  End  Just  where  it  stood 

the  Plough  may  Stand  and  horses  Run 

I  thank  you  well  for  what  you've  Done 

65 


Unexecuted  draft  of  a  Will  made  by  John  Frazer  the  year  before 
his  death,  and  letter  of  administration  of  Benjamin  Chew  to  Persifor 
Frazer  as  administrator  of  estate  of  John  Frazer. 

In  the  Name  of  God  Amen  I  John  Frazer  of  the  City  of  (torn) 
being  Weak  in  Body,  but  Sound  and  Disposcing  Mind  and  Mem- 
ory Do  Make  and  Publish  this  my  Last  Will  and  Testa- 
ment, in  manner  and  form  following;  That  is  to  say  First 
it  is  my  Will  and  I  do  hereby  Direct,  that  all  my  Debts 
and  Funeral  Charges,  be  first  paid  by  my  Executors  here- 
inafter named;  I  give  and  Devise  to  my  beloved  Son,  Per- 
sifor Frazer  the  sum  of  five  Pounds  lawful  Money  of  Pennsylvania 
and  nomore,  I  give  and  Devise  to  my  beloved  Son  Robert  Frazer 
the  sum  of  one  hundred  Pounds  of  like  Money,  but  if  the  said 
Robert  is  now  Dead  or  shall  hereafter  Die  before  me,  then  I  give 
and  Devise  the  said  sum  of  one  hundred  Pounds  to  be  equally 
Divided  between  my  beloved  Wife  Mary  Frazer  and  my  Daugh- 
ters Sarah  Frazer  and  Ann  Frazer  share  and  share  alike,  I  give  and 
Devise  to  my  said  Wife  Mary  one  equal  third  part,  of  all  the  rest 
residue  and  Remainder  of  all  my  Estate  both  Real  and  Personal  of 
what  kind  or  Nature  soever  to  hold  to  her  Heirs  and  7\ssigns  for 
ever,  I  give  and  Devise  to  my  said  Wife  the  use  and  benefit  of  the 
other  two  third  Parts  of  the  rest  residue  and  remainder  of  my 
said  Estate,  for  the  Maintainance  and  Education  of  my  said  two 
Daughters  Sarah  and  Ann  until  they  arrive  at  their  respective 
Ages  of  twenty  one.  And  I  give  and  Devise  to  my  said  two 
Daughters  the  said  two  third  parts  of  the  rest  residue  and  remain- 
der of  my  Estate  both  Real  and  Personal  to  be  equally  Divided  be- 
tween them  share  and  share  alike  to  hold  to  them  their  Heirs  and 
assigns  forever,  subject  nevertheless  to  the  use  aforesaid,  and  to 
be  paid  to  them  at  their  respective  ages  of  twenty  one  Years,  but 
if  it  shall  hereafter  happen  that  either  of  my  said  Daughters  shall 
be  Married  before  they  are  at  their  Ages  of  twenty  one  Years, 
with  the  Consent  of  my  said  Wife,  if  she  be  then  liveing,  or  of 
their  Guardian  herein  after  Named  if  she  be  Dead ;  then  my  Will  is 
that  my  said  Daughter  so  married  shall  receive  the  share  of  my 
said  Estate  which  is  hereby  Devised  to  her  Immediately  after  her 
said  Marriage,  and  in  Case  my  said  Wife  shall  happen  to  Die 
before  my  said  Daughters  be  twenty  one  Years  of  age  then  I  do 
hereby  appoint  my  Friend  M/r  Abraham  Usher  of  the  said 
City  Merchant  to  be  the  Guardian  of  my  said  Daughters  Dureing 
their  Minority  And  I  do  hereby  Appoint  my  said  Wife  Mary 
Frazer  and  my  said  Son  Persifor  Frazer  to  be  Executors  of  this  my 
Last  Will  and  Testament  hereby  revoking  all  former  Wills  by  me 

66 


heretofore  made  In  Witness  whereof  I  have  herewith  set  my  Hand 
and  Seal  this  Day  of         (torn)         one  thousand 

seven  hundred  and  sixty  four. 
Signed  Sealed  and  Published 
by  the  said  Testator  as  his  Last 
Will  and  Testament  in  presence  of 
us  who  have  hereunto  Subscribed 
our  names  at  his  request  and  in 
his  presence  the  Word  (her)  being 
first  interlined  in  the  fourteenth  Line. 
Endorsed         Project  of  Will  of 
John  Frazer 
1764 


(in  writing)     Benjamin  Chew 

WILLIAM  PLUMSTED,  Esq;  Register 
General  for  the  Probate  of  Wills,  and 

Granting  Letters  of  Administration,  in  and 

for  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania 
To  (in  writing)  Persifor  Frazer  Eldest  Son  of  John  Frazer  late 
of  the  City  of  Philadelphia  Merchant  deceased, 

Greeting. 
Whereas  the  said  John  Frazer  lately  died  intestate  (as  'tis  said) 
having  whilst  h  e  lived,  and  at  the  Time  of  h  is  Death,  divers 
Goods,  Chatties,  Rights,  and  Credits  within  the  said  Province,  by 
Means  whereof  the  full  Disposition  and  power  of  Granting  the 
Administration  of  all  and  singular  the  Goods,  Chatties,  Rights  and 
Credits  which  were  of  the  said  John  Frazer  deceased  within  the 
said  Province,  and  also  the  auditing  the  Accompts,  Calculations 
and  Reckonings  of  the  said  Administration,  and  a  final  dismission 
from  the  same;  to  me  is  manifestly  known  to  belong.  I  desiring 
that  the  Goods,  Chatties,  Rights  and  Credits,  of  the  said  Decedent 
may  be  well  and  truly  administered,  do  hereby  grant  unto  you  the 
said 

Persifor  Frazer 
(in  whose  Fidelity  in  this  behalf  I  very  much  confide)  full  Power 
by  the  Tenor  of  these  Presents,  to  Administer  the  Goods,  Chatties, 
Rights  and  Credits,  which  were  of  the  said  Decedent  within  the 
said  Province,  and  also  to  ask,  collect,  recover  and  receive,  the 
Credits  whatsoever  of  the  said  Decedent,  which  at  the  Time  of  h  is 
Death  were  owing,  or  to  him  did  any  way  belong,  and  to  pay 
the  Debts  in  which  the  said  Decedent  stood  obliged,  so  for  forth 

67 


as  the  said  Goods,  Chatties,  Rights  and  Credits  will  extend  ac- 
cording to  their  rate  and  order  of  Law,  especially  of  well  and  truly 
administering  the  Goods,  Chatties,  Rights  and  Credits  of  the  said 
Decedent,  and  making  a  true  and  perfect  inventory  thereof,  and 
exhibiting  the  same  into  the  Register  Generals  Office  at  Philadel- 
pliia,  at  or  before  the  Tenth  day  of  October  next  and  rendering  a 
true  and  just  Accompt,  Calculation  and  Reckoning  of  the  said  Ad- 
ministration, at  or  before  the  Eleventh  Day  of  September  Anno 
1766  And  also  I  do  by  these  Presents  ordain,  constitute,  and 
depute  you  the  said 

Persifor  Frazer 

Administrator  of  all  and  singular  the  Goods  Chatties,  Rights  and 
Credits  within  the  Limits  aforesaid,  saving  harmless  and  forever 
indemnifying  me  and  all  Officers  against  all  other  Persons  by 
reason  of  your  Administration  aforesaid,  and  saving  to  all  others 
their  Rights. 

IN  TESTIMONY  whereof  I  have  hereunto  set  my  Hand,  and 
Seal  of  my  Office  at  Philadelphia,  the  Tenth  Day  of  September  in 
the  Year  of  our  Lord  One  Thousand  Scz'oi  Hundred  and  Sixty  five 

Benjamin  Chew  Reg/r.  Gen/1. 

Endorsed  Administration 

of  the  Estate  late  of 

John  Frazer,  dec/d. 
loth  Sept.  1765 


The  Accompt  of  Persifor  Frazer 
Administrator  of  the  Estate  of  John  Frazer,  deceased. 

Imprimis 

The  said  Accomptant  Charges  himself  with  all  and 
singular  the  Goods  Chattels  and  Credits  of  the  said 
deceased  as  mentioned  in  an  Inventory  thereof  re- 
maining in  the  Register  Generals  Office  at  Philadel- 
phia amounting  to £819,,    I,,   II 

Also  with  Money  Reced :  from  Hugh  Frazer  for  a 

Right  to  a  seat  in  y/e  Presbyterian  Church 4  , ,  10  ,  , 

£823 , ,  II  , ,   II 
68 


>  t 

9  r 


Item     The  said  Accomptant  prays  Allowance  for  his 
Several  payments  and  disbursements  made  out  of 

the  same  as  follows  Viz/e 

Paid  for  Letters  of  Administration  etc £     i  , ,    i  , ,  g 

paid  Alex/r.  Frazer  for  a  Coffin lo , ,    -  , ,  - 

paid  Ann  Brown  pr  acc/t  and  Rec/t -  , ,  1 1  , ,  - 

paid  William   Henry 8,, 15,,   - 

paid  the   Sexton 2,,    7  , ,  - 

paid  Mary  Barclay i  , ,  14  ,  ,  8 

paid  Philip   Flick 7,,    i  , ,  g 

paid  Henry  and  Bensted 15  , ,    6  , ,  3 

paid  Presty  Blackstone i,,i3,,4 

paid  Nicholas  Brooks 1  ,  ,    3,,   - 

paid  John  Faries 2,, 12,,  2 

paid  James  Alexander 43  , ,    3  . .  6  1/2 

paid  William  Rush  pr  Order  etc 22  , ,  13  , ,  6 

paid  John   Mussur i  , ,  19  ,  ,  6 

paid  Mary  Carr i,,    4,,  3 

paid  John  Weir 23  , , 

paid  Daniel  M/c.Lonen i  , , 

paid  Furgus  M/cIlvaine n,.    2,,  2 

paid  Doctor   Redman i  , ,  14  , ,  - 

paid  Usher  and  Mitchell 20  , ,  16  ,  ,  6 

paid  John  M/c.Calla 14,.    4>.6 

paid  John  Williams   2  , ,  1 1  , ,  6 

paid  William  Crispin 2  , ,  19  , ,  4 

paid  Adm./rs  of  Joseph  Bell 3,,    i,,6 

paid  Mary  Jenkins -.,I5>>   " 

paid  W/m.  Rigden  and  Son i,,    -,.- 

paid  Margaret  Allen 132  , ,  16  , ,  o 

£336  , ,    9  . .  4  1/2 
By  allowance  for  the  Sum  of  £156  , ,  13  , ,  9  be- 
ing  the   am/t.    of   Sundry    outstanding   debts 
Charged  to  this  Accomptant  in  the  Inventory 

as  pr  List 156,  ,  I3"  9 

Paid  at  the  Reg/r.  Gen/1.  Office  for  these  ac- 

compts  Copy  etc •  •  i  , ,  10  , ,  - 

By  an  Allowance  made  the  Accomptant  for  his 

time  trouble  and  Expence  in  the  Administration  20,,    -,,   - 

Ballance  on  this  Settlement  to  be  disposed  of 

as  the  Law  directs 30S  ,  ,  18  , ,  9  1/2 


£823,  ,  II  ,,ii 
69 


The  Foregoing  Writing  is  a  true  Copy  of  the  Acco/t.  of  the  estate  of 
John  Frazer  deceased  taken  from  the  original  remaining  in  the 
Reg/r.  Gen. /is  Office  at  Philadelphia  Given  under  the  Seal  of  the 
said  Office  this  i8/th  day  of  January  in  the  year  1774 


Endorsed 


John  Maxfield  D  :Reg/r. 
Copy  of  the  Acco/t.  of  John  Frazer's  Estate. 


A  List  of  Desperate  Debts  due  to  the  Estate  of  John  Frazer  deceas'd 

Viz. 


W/m.  Shields £37 

William  Wrath i 

Anne  Campbell 

David  Wagoner 

Dan  Winter   2 

Bryan    Connoly 9 

Charles  Quin 

Catharine  Lawless 2 

Rich/d.  Scott 19 

Moore  the  Hatter - 

John  May   3 

W/m.  Talbert i 

Geo.  Black   

M/rs.  Coventan i 

M/r.  Young  the  Sailor , i 

Dillworth   and   Warner 

Nurse  Gibbs 

Mrs.  Jones i 

Daniel  Fink I 

Ann  Lees   2 

Eliza   Scott    

M/rs.  Stevens 2 

M/rs.  Murphy   

Hannah  M/cGonnagan 

Nathan/1.  Hood - 

Mr/s.   Williams    i 

Anne  Hamilton   2 

Mr/s.  Dunnavon   

Sarah  Wiley  i 

70 


10, 

8, 

10, 

5. 

5. 

5. 

3. 
13. 

3. 
10, 

17. 

6, 
9. 

14. 

4, 
17. 

3. 

r       II    1 
II     , 

4. 
3. 
5. 
8. 
10, 


2 

I   1/2 

3 
6 


9 

I   1/2 

I 

9 
I 

7 

6 

II 

3 
II 

9 
I 

4 
I 

10 
6 

5 
2 

5 

10 
6 


Mr/s.  Allen i 

Geo.    M/cintire    

Stephen  Hamilton i 

Mary  Hayes  

George  Moore 4 


List  of  Desperate  Debts  Continued 

Am/t.  bro/t.  Over. 


£69 
.£69 


Jonathan  James 

Aaron  James 

Michael  Brazil 

Mary  Clifton - 

Cathrine    Morton 

James  Dawson 

Rose  Mahony g 

James  Smith 2 

Alex/r.  Kennedy i 

Abigail   M/cCim    2 

Eliz/a.  Scott 2 

Mary  Newell i 

John  Woodside   

Deborah  Wright 

James  Forrister 2 

Owen  Sullivan   i 

John  Erskine   

M/rs.  Macky 

James  Chalmers 4 

Nicholas  Fitzsimons   3 

Patrick  Dunnavon i 

Geo.  Linmire   i 

Tho/s.  Grahams 2 

Josiah  Mitchel   

Mr/s.  Lovegrove i 

Geo.  Young i 

M/rs.  Garrick 

John  Gordon i 

Peter  Gofif 5 

W/m.  Henderson  (new  Providence) 3 

W/m.  Massey i 

Delaney  the  Constable 


17 
13 
3 
15 
16 


3 
3 


4: 

4. 

3 

5 
II 
II 

15 
10 , 

5 
I 

6, 
12 

6; 

3 

I 
5 

ID 


17 

9. 
17 

6 
12 

4: 


4 
6 


II  1/2 
II 


ID 

8 

5 
6 

II 
6 
2 

3 

8 

4  1/2 

9 
9 

4 
6 
6 

9 
6 
6 

9 
9 
I 

II  1-/2 
6 

9 

8 
8 
3 


£124, ,16,,  0 


71 


Mary  Penhoysel  24/3 

Culton  y/e  Seaman  10/6 

M/rs.  Dyer  5/10 

Jn/o.  White  (ropemaker  9/2 

David  Fitzgerald  27/10 

From  the  account  of  the  administration  of  Persifor  Frazer  it  would 
seem  that  there  were  other  Frazers  (Hugh  and  Alexander),  here  and 
that  John  Frazer  owned  a  seat  in  the  Presbyterian  Church  and  was 
probably  himself  a  Presbyterian. 

The  following  are  seven  generations  (XIV  to  XX)  of  the  direct 
line.     Only  one  son  in  each  of  these  generations  married  and  had  issue. 


72 


I  owe  to  the  kindness  of  my  cousin  Mr.  Joseph  S.Harris  the  permis- 
sion to  publish  the  following  tables  and  notes  on  the  individuals  therein 
mentioned.  Part  of  the  data  is  taken  from  an  unpublished  manuscript 
of  his  on  "the  Frazer  family",  and  part  from  his  published  volume  on 
"the  Harris  Ancestry"  (Phila.  1898). 


Generation  XIV. 


In- 
dex 
No. 


Name 


Date 

of 
Birth 


Persifor  Frazer 


about 
1667 


Date 

of 

Marriage 

about 
1700 


Name  of 
Spouse 


Margaret 

Clayton  or 

Carlton 


Date 

of 
Death 


about 
1740 


Residence  and  Remarks 


Tonyhannigin,  County 
Monaghan,  Ireland- 


Generation  XV. 


The  children  of  Persifor  Frazer  XIV-i  and  Margaret  Carlton. 


Elizabeth 
Frazer 

about 
1701 

about 
1718 

Alexander 
Smith 

After 
1766 

Clanickny.  County 
Monaghan,  Ireland. 

Persifor 

about 
1703 

bet. 
1737 
and 

1755 

Rebecca 

about 
1705 

unmarri'd 

? 

a  daughter 

about 
1707 

? 

— Speer 

? 

Chester,  now  Delaware 
Co.,  Pa. 

John 

Aug. 
8 

June  16 
1735 

Mary  Smith 

Sep.  7 
1765 

Newtown,  Del.  Co.,  Pa. 

6 

7 

Margaret 
Sarah 

1709 
about 
1711 

about 
1712 

about 
1729 

about 
1735 

John  Geiger 
John  Price 

? 
? 

County  Monaghan, 

Ireland. 

Later  in  America  (?) 
County  Monaghan, 

Ireland. 

73 


Smith  Family 
Generation  XIV. 

In- 
dex 
No. 

Name 

Date 

of 

Birth 

Date 

of 

Marriage 

Name 

of 
Spouse 

Date 

of 

Death 

Residence  and  Remarks 

1 

Robert  Smith 

Sept. 

5, 

1678 

? 

Mary 
Douglass 

1756 

near  Glasslough, 
County  Monaghan, 
Ireland. 

Robert  Sinith's  oldest  sister  married  John  Wattson  whose  grand- 
nephew  (grandson  of  his  brother  WilHam  Wattson)  brought  over  a 
letter  dated  June  1755  to  John  Frazer  in  Philadelphia. 

Generation  XV. 
The  children  of  Robert  Smith  and  Mary  Douglass 


Andrew 
Jane 

Elizabeth 


Eleanor 
(called  also 
Ellen) 


Mary 


Margaret 


Sarah 
(called  also 
Salle) 


Martha 


? 

Not 
Married 

? 

? 

? 

? 

? 

? 

Feb. 

10 

1713 

June  16 
1735 

? 

? 

? 

? 

? 

? 

—    —    — 

? 

John  Armstrong 

1767 

John 
Greacen 

after 
1784 

John 

1783 

Morison 

John 
Frazer 

July  5 
1764 

Alen 
Cooke 

? 

William 
Crook- 
shanks 
after- 
wards 
Judge 

? 

Andrew 
Wilson 

? 

County  Monaghan, 
reland. 


County  Monaghan, 

'reland. 
Had  one  son  Andrew 

Clanickney,  Tynan. 
Had  one  son  Robert. 

Co.,  Monaghan, 

Ireland- 
Had  issue. 
Pennsylvania. 
Had  Issue. 
See  elsewhere. 

Had  no  issue. 


County  Monaghan, 

Ireland. 
Had  one  son  William 


Co.,  Monaghan, 
Ireland.     Had  no  issue. 


74 


Generation  XVI. 

The  children  of  John  Frazer  XV-5  and  Mary  Smith  XV-5. 


In- 
dex 

No. 

Name 

Date 

of 
Birth 

Date 

of 

Marriage 

Name 

of 
Spouse 

Date 

of 

Death 

Residence  and  Remarks 

1 

Persifor 

Aug. 

9. 
1736 

Oct.  2 
1766 

Mary  Worrall 
Taylor 

Apr. 

24 

1792 

Pennsylvania 

2 

Robert 

July 

21 

1738 



—  —  —  — 

1763 

4< 

3 

John 

Oct. 

9 
1740 



—  —  —  — 

Aug. 

30 

1741 

(1 

4 

John  (2d) 

July 

31 

1742 



—  —  —   — 

Sep.  7 
I74» 

t4 

5 

Mary 

Oct. 

4 
1744 



—  — 

July 
1746 

f( 

6 

Elizabeth 

July 

9 
1747 

~~     

—  —  -^ 

Oct.  9 
1747 

(» 

7 

Thomas 

Sep. 

23 

1748 



~~~  —  ~~~ 

Dec. 

12 

1749 

(( 

8 

Sarah 

Oct. 

18 

1750 

about 
1772 

about 
1790 

I  Jacob 

Vernon 

II  Samuel 

Hewes 

June 

17 

1825 

Aston  township,    Ches- 
ter, now  Del., Co.  Pa. 

9 

Mary 

May 

30 

1753 

—  — 

—  —  — 

Oct. 

8 
1754 

10 

Anne 

Sep. 

4 

1755 

about 
Oct.  1776 

Joshua 
Vernon 

Aug. 

18 

1825 

tt 

75 


"Persifor  Frazer  (XV-2) — Speaks  in  his  letter*  to  his  brother  John, 
written  in  1737,  as  if  he,  Persifor,  were  the  head  of  the  family.  He  was 
evidently  the  oldest  son.  He  must  have  died  after  1755  as  Robt  Smith 
mentions  (probably)  him  and  his  sister  Matty  in  a  letter  of  this  date." 


"Rebecca  Frazer  (XV-3)  is  spoken  of  as  living  in  Ireland  in  1737 — 
apparently  unmarried.  The  correspondence  does  not  again  allude 
to  her." 


"XV-4  Of  this  daughter  we  only  know  that  her  married  name  was 
Speer,  that  she  and  her  husband  probably  emigrated  to  America  with 
her  brother  John,  and  that  they  were  living  there  in  1737." 


"John  Frazer  (XV-5)  The  Frazers  were  neighbors  and  on  terms  of 
affectionate  intimacy  with  the  family  of  Robert  Smith  in  Ireland,  into 
which  John  Frazer  married,  and  the  correspondence  shows  in  the  let- 
ters of  Margaret  H.  Smith,  written  in  1737,  and  of  Robert  Smith, 
written  in  1755,  that  the  affection  continued  to  exist;  but  the  tradition 
in  the  family  is  that  the  match  between  John  Frazer  and  Mary  Smith 
did  not  have  the  approval  of  the  latter's  parents.  The  objection  may 
have  been  founded  on  their  reluctance  to  allow  their  eldest  daughter 
to  go  on  a  perilous  journey  into  a  new  country,  for  the  marriage  was 
made  in  view  of  immediate  departure  of  the  bride  and  groom  to 
America,  which  took  place  on  the  28th  of  June,  1735,  only  12  days  after 
the  wedding.  Their  voyage  to  America  was  of  about  the  usual  length, 
and  they  reached  Philadelphia  on  the  28th  of  September.  Their  first 
home  was  at  Newtown,  now  Delaware  County,  Pennsylvania,  to  which 
place  the  family  letters  which  were  written  from  Ireland  in  1737  were 
directed.  The  address  of  the  letter  which  Persifor,  John's  father,  [and 
Persifor  his  brotherf]  wrote  to  John  Frazer  at  that  date  was: 
"Newtown,  New  township"  The  township  was  laid  out  about 
1685  with  a  "townstead"  in  or  as  near  as  convenient  to  the 
centre.  The  lots  in  this  townstead  or  village  were  distributed  to  the 
purchasers  of  land  in  the  township  in  proportion  to  the  number 
of  acres  bought  by  each  settler.  "Newtown  Square"  still  remains  the 
most  important  settlement  in  the  township,  to  testify  to  this  early  ar- 
rangement. There  was  a  similar  settlement,  also  called  "Newtown", 
in  Bucks  County. 

"In  the  settlement  of  Chester  and  Delaware  Counties,  the  hilly 

♦There  is  some  doubt  of  the  existence  of  this  letter.  Its  origin  may  have  been 
an  old  abbreviated  copy  of  the  letter  of  Persifor  (XIV-i)  to  his  son  John  (p.  19). 
It  is  of  the  same  date,  bears  the  same  address,  mentions  the  same  facts  in  the  same 
order,  and  nothing  else.  P-  F- 

tSee  foot  note  above. 

76 


country  was  largely  taken  up  by  Welshmen,  and  this  was  the  case  with 
Newtown  township,  but  what  it  was  which  attracted  John  Frazer  there 
is  not  known." 

"The  English  settlers,  who  were  mostly  Quakers,  occupied  the 
country  to  the  southward,  and  there  was  no  great  love  between  them 
and  the  Presbyterians,  to  which  faith  the  families  of  John  Frazer  and 
his  wife  adhered." 

"Whether  his  early  career  in  Pennsylvania  was  that  of  a  merchant 
is  not  known,  though  it  is  not  unlikely.  He  removed  to  Philadelphia, 
where  his  brother-in-law,  William  Crookshanks,  addresses  a  letter  to 
him  in  1759.  In  the  address  of  this  letter  he  calls  him  "Marchand". 
He  lived  at  one  time  on  the  north  side  of  Arch  street  below  Fourth 
street,  and  at  another  time  on  "Society  Hill,"  at  the  mouth  of  Dock 
Creek.  He  was  a  shipping  merchant,  trading  chiefly  to  the  West  In- 
dies, and  is  said  to  have  owned  the  vessels  which  carried  his  ventures." 
"There  was  a  John  Frazer  licensed  to  trade  with  the  Indians  about 
August,  1748,  and  again  September  4,  1753.  As  the  name  was  not  a 
common  one,  it  is  probable  that  the  licenses  were  given  to  the  person 
whose  history  is  under  consideration." 

"He  revisited  Ireland  at  least  twice  after  his  emigration,  once 
probably  in  the  latter  part  of  1737,  and  once  not  far  from  1752.  He 
seems  to  have  been  a  man  of  kindly  nature.  All  of  the  letters  written 
by  various  members  of  his  family,  and  of  his  wife's  family,  speak  of  him 
in  terms  of  afifection,  and  they  entrust  to  him  the  care  of  their  interests 
in  America." 

"An  unexecuted  copy  of  John  Frazer's  will  dated,  Philadelphia, 
1764,  leaves  to  his  son  Persifor  £5,  he  having  apparently  already  re- 
ceived his  portion  of  his  father's  estate;  to  his  son  Robert  £100,  "but  if 
Robert  is  now  dead, or  shall  die  before  me,"£ioo  is  to  be  equally  divided 
between  his  wife  Mary,  and  his  daughters  Sarah  and  Ann.  All  of  his 
children  except  these  four  had  died  in  infancy.  He  gives  his  wife  one 
third  of  his  estate  absolutely,  the  other  two  thirds  to  be  used  so  far  as 
necessary  for  the  maintenance  and  education  of  Sarah  and  Ann,  and 
the  residue  to  be  theirs  absolutely.  His  friend,  Abraham  Usher,  mer- 
chant of  Philadelphia,  to  be  their  guardian;  his  wife,  and  his  son 
Persifor  to  be  his  executors." 

"He  and  his  wife  both  died  in  Philadelphia." 


"Of  Margaret  Frazer  (XV-6)  we  know  little,  except  that  she  mar- 
ried a  man  named  (probably  John)  Geiger ;  that  her  husband  was  dead 
before  June,  1737,  leaving  children (i) Jack,  who  was  then  in  Glaslough, 
Ireland,  probably  with  relatives,  and  (2)  Mally  or  Margaret,  who  was 
with  her  grandfather,  Persifor  Frazer.  There  were  two  younger  chil- 
dren whose  names  are  not  known,  who  had  then  lately  died.     The 

77 


family  was  apparently  broken  up  temporarily  by  a  severe  attack  of 
smallpox,  which  prostrated  Margaret,  and  from  which  she  recovered 
slowly.  She  may  have  gone  to  America  after  this  time,  as  we  know 
that  there  were  two  sisters  of  John  Frazer  living  in  America  in  1766,  of 
whom  Mrs.  Speer  was  probably  one,  and  Mrs.  Geiger  the  other." 


"OfSarahFrazer(XV-7)we  know  only  that  she  married  John  Price, 
and  that  she  had  a  young  daughter  in  1737.  Sarah  Frazer  was  living 
in  Pennsylvania  September  1768." 


"We  know  but  little  of  Robert  Frazer  (XVI-7).  William  Crook- 
shanks  notes  that  he  visited  Ireland  in  1759,  landing  in  Dublin  March 
8  of  that  year,  expecting  soon  to  return  to  America.  He  had  probably 
already  adopted  the  mercantile  life  as  his  profession,  and  was  on  a  trad- 
ing voyage.  He  was  probably  interested  with  his  father  in  shipping 
ventures  and  perhaps  in  ships.  He  was  lost  at  sea  in  the  latter  part  of 
the  year  1763,  or  the  early  part  of  1764 — the  earliest  records  giving 
1764  as  the  date.  His  father  in  the  draft  of  his  will  mentioned  above 
considers  that  Robert  is  probably  dead.  This  will  must  have  been 
written  in  the  first  half  of  1764,  as  it  speaks  of  John  Frazer's  wife  who 
died  July  7,  1764,  as  likely  to  survive  him,  so  that  she  was  not  then  even 
seriously  sick." 

"News  travelled  slowly  in  those  days,  and  Robert  Frazer  would  not 
have  been  given  up  for  lost  for  some  months  after  he  was  last  heard 
from." 

"His  estate  seems  to  be  approaching  a  settlement  when  Benjamin 
Davis  promises,  December  18,  1764,  to  pay  Persifor  Frazer,  Robert's 
brother,  £90  i8s.  Pennsylvania  currency,  being  for  Davis'  part  of  the 
Brigantine  Ranger,  and  her  cargo  due  to  the  estate  of  Robert  Frazer. 
July  6,  1766,  his  father  and  brother  being  then  both  dead,  Persifor 
Frazer  (XVI-i)  makes  settlement  with  the  E.xecutors  of  Thomas  Bar- 
tholomew, relating  to  money  recovered  by  the  said  Persifor  Frazer  in 
Carolina  on  a  policy  of  insurance ;  Thomas  Bartholomew  having  ship- 
ped, in  company  with  the  Frazers,  a  quantity  of  beer  to  Carolina. 
From  all  of  which  we  may  infer  that  Robert  Frazer  was  lost  on  the 
brig  Ranger  of  which  he  was  supercargo,  and  that  Bartholomew  and 
Robert  Frazer,  and  perhaps  his  father,  were  interested  in  the  venture." 

"We  have  in  this  family  a  noticeable  record  of  early  deaths,  six  of 
the  ten  children  of  John  and  Mary  Frazer  dying  in  infancy.  Their 
early  deaths  may  point  to  feeble  health  on  the  part  of  their  mother,  and 
may  have  caused  in  her  the  depression  that  habitually  sought  relief  in 
prayer  as  narrated  by  her  daughter  Sarah  (XVI-8).  There  was  a  vein 
of  religious  melancholy  in  several  of  her  descendants." 

78 


"The  name  of  Thomas  Frazer  (XVI-7)  is  that  of  the  12th  Lord 
Lovat,  who,  it  is  beHeved,  was  the  father  of  Persifor  Frazer  (XIV-i)." 


"The  first  husband  of  Sarah  Frazer  (XVI-8),  (Jacob  Vernon,)  and 
the  husband  of  Anne  Frazer (XVI- 10), (Joshua  Vernon), were  brothers. 
Their  parents  were  Jacob  Vernon  (XV-?)  of  Thornbury  Township, 
who  died  there  in  1748,  and  EHzabeth  (Hickman)  Cheyney,  who  were 
married  about  1730.  Their  grand-parents  were  Jacob  Vernon  (XIV-?), 
who  died  in  1740,  and  Ann  Yearsley,  who  were  married  in  1701 ;  and 
their  great-grand-parents  were  Randal  Vernon  (XIII-  ?  )  of  Sandyway 

Cheshire,  England,  born  1640,  died  1725,  and  Sarah ,  who  died 

February  18,  1719." 

"Randal  Vernon  settled  in  Nether  Providence  township,  where  he 
was  an  influential  Friend,  and  was  entrusted  with  the  "public  business" 
of  his  denomination.     He  was  a  member  of  Assembly  in  1687." 

"Sarah  Frazer(XVI-8)lived  within  a  short  distance  of  her  brother 
Persifor,  and  it  was  to  her  house  that  Mrs.  Persifor  Frazer  sent  her 
children  for  safety  when  the  British  raided  her  house  in  September, 
1777.  Sarah's  husband,  Jacob  Vernon,  died  about  1788,  and  she  married 
about  1790,  Samuel  Hewes  (XVI-?)who  was  a  son  of  Samuel  Hewes 
(XV-?)  and  Mary  (or  Ann)  Dare,  and  a  grandson  of  Moses  Hewes 
(XIV-?)  and  Sarah  Watson." 

"In  1793  Samuel  Hewes  (XVI- ?)  was  granted  a  license  to  keep  the 
"Seven  Stars"  tavern  in  Aston  township,  Delaware  County,  which 
license  was  renewed  from  time  to  time  till  his  death  in  1820.  His 
widow  Sarah  continued  to  keep  the  "Seven  Stars"  till  1824." 

"The  "Seven  Stars"  was  located  at  Village  Green,  and  was  famous 
as  the  headquarters  of  Lord  Cornwallis  the  Commander  of  the  British 
forces  which  lay  in  that  vicinity  some  days  after  the  battle  of  Bran- 
wine.  The  tavern  dates  back  to  1762,  and  it  was  a  well  known  house 
for  a  hundred  years  after  that  time." 

"Samuel  Hewes  who  was  born  June  20,  1762,  was  his  wife's  junior 
by  several  years.     He  died  in  1820." 


"Anne  Frazer  (XVI- 10)  lived  with  her  brother  Persifor,  to  whom  she 
was  devotedly  attached,  till  her  marriage.  We  have  a  note  of  her  and 
her  husband  as  about  to  remove  to  Dilworthstown,  a  few  miles  west  of 
Persifor's  home  in  1778,  and  we  know  that  some  years  later  they  re- 
moved to  Redstone,  Fayette  County,  Pennsylvania,  about  30  miles 
south  of  Pittsburg,  and  near  the  Monongahela  River.  Ann  was,  as 
her  correspondence  shows,  a  person  of  much  sprightliness  and  warm 
aflfections.     Her  husband,  Joshua  Vernon  died  March  1798." 

79 


"Phebe  Vernon,  a  sister  of  Jacob  and  Joshua,  married  John 
Harper;  and  this  relationship  doubtless  promoted  the  companionship 
which  we  know  to  have  existed  between  Persifor  Frazer  (XVI-i)  and 
Major  John  Harper,  as  he  came  to  be  known  during  the  Revolution." 

Joseph  S.  Harris. 


Generation  XVII. 


The  children  of  Persifor  Frazer  (XVI-i)  and  Mary  Worrall 
Taylor  (XVI-i). 


Date 

Date 

Name 

Date 

of 

of 

of 

of 

Name 

Birth 

Marriage 

Spouse 

Death 

Residence  and  Remarks 

I 

Sarah 

Jan. 
II 

1769 

never 
married 



Mar. 

3 
1841 

2 

Robert 

Aug. 

May  3 

Mary  Ball 

Jan. 

Mary  B.  died— 

30 

1798 

b.  Apl.  23,  1778 

20 

June  21,  1800 

1771 

Oct.  15 
1803 

Feb.  u 
1818 

Elizab 

Fries 

b.  June  16,  177S 

Alice 

Yarnall 

b.  Aug.  28,  1778 

1821 

Eliz.    F.  died— 
June  19,  1815 

Alice  Y.  died— 
March  23,   1830 

3 

Mary  Anne 

Feb. 

Oct.  16 

Jon'" 

Feb. 

17 

1794 

Smith 

19 

1774 

1845 

4 

Persifor 

Feb. 

26 

1776 

never 

married 

Sept. 

29 

1798 

5 

Martha 

May 

22 

1778 

<i 

July 

20 

1778 

6 

Mary 

Jan. 

Feb.  27 

May 

14 

1800 

Jos.  Smith 

23 

1780 

1862 

7 

John 

Dec. 

27 

1781 

never 

married 

Aug. 

3 
1783 

8 

Martha 

Oct. 

14 

1783 

Oct.  15 
1818 

W°  Morris 

Jan. 

27 
1867 

9 

Elizabeth 

May 

17 
1786 

May 

13 
1788 

10 

Elizabeth 

Dec. 

17 

1788 

Jan.  9 
1812 

H'y.  Myers 
80 

Apr. 

25 

1857 

"Sarah  Frazer  (XVII-i)  had  the  family  appreciation  of  humor,  and 
many  odd  stories  are  told  of  her.  She  was  lame,  having  dislocated  her 
hip,  though  at  what  age  is  not  known,  probably  after  reaching  matur- 
ity. She  was  plain  spoken  and  somewhat  eccentric.  In  her  later 
years  she  was  asked  by  a  person  who  knew  her  slightly  if  she  was  not 
the  mother  of  some  person  who  was  named.  She  replied  with  empha- 
sis, and,  perhaps,  not  without  regret — "I  am  not  the  mother  of  any 
living  thing;  I  am  nothing  but  a  nasty  old  maid." 

"She  became  in  middle  life  a  convert  to  the  Methodist  faith,  and 
identified  herself  very  thoroughly  with  that  body  which  had  at  that 
time  but  little  social  position.  She  lived  with  her  mother  at  Thorn- 
bury  till  about  1825,  when  her  mother  went  to  hve  at  the  house  of  her 
daughter,  (Mrs.  Joseph  Smith)  in  East  Whiteland.  She  was  an  in- 
mate for  a  short  time  of  the  family  of  her  sister  Martha  (Mrs.  William 
Morris),  but  accepted  a  little  later  an  invitation  to  make  her  home  in 
Philadelphia  with  her  sister  Mary  Ann  (Mrs.  Jonathan  Smith).  This 
was  a  Presbyterian  household,  and  as  inter-denominational  charity  was 
quite  undeveloped  in  those  days,  she  found  that  she  had  rather  live 
with  those  who  were  of  the  same  household  of  faith  with  herself  than 
with  her  kindred  who  had  views  not  in  sympathy  with  hers.  She  re- 
turned to  West  Chester  and  took  up  her  abode  with  an  English  family 
named  Hodson  who  lived  on  Gay  street.  She  spent  the  rest  of  her  Ufe 
with  them,  and  died  at  their  house." 


"Robert  Frazer  (XVII-2)  was  born  in  Middletown  township.  He 
received  an  unusually  expensive  education  and  started  to  practice  law 
in  possession  of  a  law  library  imported  from  England  at  a  cost  of  £100, 
being  admitted  at  Chester  to  practice  at  the  Chester  County  bar  July 
30,  1792.  He  lived  in  Chester  County  till  about  1807,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Philadelphia,  where  he  remained  till  after  the  death  of  his 
second  wife,  who  died  in  1814,  when  he  again  removed  to  Chester 
County  to  a  farm  at  the  intersection  of  the  road  from  West  Chester 
to  Philadelphia  with  the  road  running  south  from  Paoli  to  Media  and 
Chester,  about  where  the  West  Chester  road  crosses  Crum  Creek, 
about  10  miles  from  Chester,  probably  about  where  Edgmont  P.  O. 
now  is.     It  was  here  that  he  died. 

"The  family  tradition  says  in  regard  to  him,  that  he  was  the  leading 
member  of  the  bar  of  Chester  County,  a  most  beautiful  and  winning 
speaker,  but  terrible  in  denunciation.  He  had  a  melodious  voice. 
He  was  the  idol  of  the  place,  and  was  held  by  his  friends  to  be  the 
equal  of  Sargent  and  Binney." 

81 


"He  drew,  in  1820,  the  petition  to  the  Legislature  for  the  removal 
of  the  County  Seat  of  Delaware  County  from  Chester.  He  was 
Deputy  Attorney  General  from  May  1793  to  February  1800,  and  from 
February  to  November  1S16." 

"His  Philadelphia  home,  where  Persifor  (XVni-4)  in  1809,  ^^^ 
John  (XVni-5)  in  1812,  were  born,  was  on  the  south  west  corner  of 
Chestnut  and  Third  streets." 

"His  first  wife,  Mary  Ball,  was  a  daughter  of  Jos.  and  Sarah  Ball, 
born  April  23,  1778.     She  died  without  issue  May  3,  1798." 

"His  second  wife,  Elizabeth  Fries,  daughter  of  John  and  Ann 
Fries,  Quakers  of  Arch  street,  Philadelphia,  was  born  June  16,  1778, 
and  died  in  childbirth,  June  19,  1815.  She  was  the  mother  of  all  his 
children,  except  the  youngest." 

His  third  wife,  Alice  Yarnall,  born  August  28,  1778,  died  March 
23,  1830,  was  a  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Sarah  Pennell,  Quakers  of 
Chester  County.  Her  grandfather  was  Joseph  Pennell,  born  August 
3,  1706.  Her  great-grandparents  were  Joseph  Pennell,  of  Edgniont, 
Delaware  County,  born  December  12,  1674,  and  Alice  Garrett,  of 
Darby,  and  her  great-great-grandparents  were  Robert  Pennell,  of 
Middletown,  and 

"Alice  Pennell  married,  first,  Eli  Yarnall,  a  son  of  Dr.  Peter  Yar- 
nall, of  Concord  township,  who  was  born  1754,  died  1798." 


"Mary  Anne  Frazer  (XVn-3)  has  left  no  history  that  I  know  of, 
except  that  she  was  especially  beloved  by  her  namesake,  my  mother. 
The  record  of  her  husband's  life  will  be  found  in  the  Smith  genealogy." 


"Persifor  Frazer  (XVII-4).  His  father  proposed  that  he  should  be 
a  fuller,  there  being  opportunities  doubtless  at  some  of  the  mills  on 
Chester  Creek  to  learn  that  business.  It  was,  however,  distasteful  to 
the  son  who  thought  that  he  preferred  a  mercantile  life.  He  made  a 
voyage  to  Lisbon  at  the  age  of  17,  the  year  after  his  father's  death. 
The  return  voyage  was  a  long  one,  104  days  from  Lisbon  to  Philadel- 
phia. They  ran  out  of  provisions,  were  forced  to  live  on  short  allow- 
ances, and  had  to  draw  largely  on  the  ship's  store  of  figs,  raisins  and 
Lisbon  wine.  They  had  divided  their  last  biscuit  when  they  were  re- 
lieved by  a  passing  vessel." 

"On  their  next  voyage  which  was  to  have  taken  them  to  a  French 
port  they  were  taken  by  an  English  vessel,  and  the  whole  crew,  except 
the  Captain,  Frazer,  who,  perhaps,  was  supercargo,  and  the  steward 

82 


were  put  in  irons.  They,  however,  overpowered  the  prize  crew  and 
regained  possession  of  the  vessel.  They  again  shaped  their  course  for 
their  port  but  ran  into  a  fog.  When  it  hfted  they  found  themselves  in 
the  middle  of  an  English  fleet.  They  were  captured,  and  Frazer  was 
sent  to  Halifax,  Nova  Scotia.  He  was  released  through  the  exertions 
of  the  American  Consul,  Phineas  Bond.  This  ended  his  seafaring 
life.  He  was  appointed  to  a  position  in  the  first  United  States  bank, 
of  which  he  became  Cashier.  In  the  summer  of  1798,  the  yellow  fever 
raged  in  Philadelphia.  The  President  of  the  Bank  died,  and  it  was 
decided  to  remove  the  institution  to  Germantown.  In  making  this 
removal  in  the  hot  humid  weather  of  September,  Frazer  exerted  him- 
self greatly,  with  the  result  that  he  sickened  and  died  of  yellow  fever 
after  five  days'  illness  on  the  29th  of  September,  1798,  within  a  week 
after  the  bank's  removal.  Such  was  the  confusion  at  the  time,  and  so 
restricted  the  intercourse  that  he  was  dead  and  buried  before  his 
mother  knew  that  he  was  sick,  and  it  was  with  considerable  difficulty 
that  she  discovered  the  place  of  his  burial." 


"Mary  Frazer  (XVII-6)  was  a  woman  of  vigorous  mind  and  body. 
Like  her  elder  sister,  Mary  Anne,  she  was  of  the  severe  type  of  piety, 
common  among  Presbyterians  at  the  beginning  of  the  last  century, 
and  so  was  less  popular  among  her  young  relatives  than  if  she  had  been 
more  genial,  but  her  children  always  spoke  in  warm  praise  of  her,  and 
she  was  doubtless  an  estimable  woman.  Her  daughter  Rhoda  says 
that  her  mother  and  her  aunt  Martha  (XVII-8)  had  very  fine  voices, 
and  in  their  later  life  often  sang  for  hours  from  an  old  music  book  in 
Mary's  possession,  Mary's  voice  being  a  sweet  soprano,  and  Martha's 
a  rich  contralto.  If  Mary  had  a  fine  voice  she  did  not  transmit  it  to 
any  of  her  children  who  were  all  deficient  in  musical  ability."  ("For 
an  account  of  her  husband,  see  Smith  (Jonathan-Joseph)  record.") 
"She  was  a  woman  who  had  had  claims  to  beauty  in  early  life.  She 
was  of  medium  height  (say  5  feet  3  inches),  and  of  rather  spare  figure, 
though  not  abnormally  thin." 


"Martha  Frazer  (XVII-8)  married  at  the  age  of  thirty-five  (later 
than  usual  in  those  days)  William  Morris,  who  was  a  small  farmer 
living  near  West  Chester.  When  her  mother's  estate  was  settled,  she 
took  her  share  in  the  inheritance,  and  bought  a  farm  in  Bethel  town- 
ship, not  far  from  Marcus  Plook,  where  she  lived  until  she  was  quite 

83 


advanced  in  years,  after  which  she  made  her  home  with  her  daughter, 
Mrs.  Samuel  Arthur." 

"She  followed  the  faith  of  her  husband  who  was  a  Methodist,  and 
though  she  was  in  but  moderate  circumstances,  she  was  of  such  sunny 
temper,  and  so  great  a  sense  of  the  humorous  that  she  was  an  universal 
favorite  in  the  family.  Her  husband  who  was  born  in  May,  1787,  died 
about  1873.  He  was  not  a  person  of  much  culture,  but  he  was  an  hon- 
est and  upright,  if  not  an  enterprising  man." 

"Elizabeth  Frazer  (XVH-g)  met  an  early  death  when  two  years 
old  by  drowning  in  a  well  six  feet  deep  near  her  father's  house,  about 
sunset.  Her  father  who  was  at  Sharpless'  mill  when  he  heard  of  the 
accident  hastened  home,  and  the  exertion  of  the  walk  joined  to  his  re- 
gret that  his  neglect  to  secure  the  top  of  the  well  should  have  caused 
the  death  of  the  baby  to  whom  he  was  tenderly  attached,  brought  on 
or  aggravated  a  heart  trouble  from  which  he  never  wholly  recovered." 

"Elizabeth  Frazer  (XVH-ig).  It  is  not  known  why  General  and 
Mrs.  Frazer  should  have  been  so  attached  to  the  name  Elizabeth  as  to 
give  the  name  to  two  of  their  children.  Mrs.  Frazer's  grandfather's 
second  wife  was  named  Elizabeth,  as  was  her  brother  Isaac's  wife,  but 
neither  of  them  were  favorites  in  the  family.  It  is  probable,  however, 
that  it  was  the  last  mentioned  person  for  whom  these  children  were 
named.     The  second  Elizabeth  was  always  called  Eliza  in  the  family." 

"Henry  Myers,  whom  Elizabeth  married,  was  at  that  time  a  pros- 
perous farmer  of  Concord  township,  Delaware  County.  He  was  of  a 
family  originally  French  Huguenots,  living  near  the  Swiss  border. 
The  original  name  was  Mai,  Maiere,  or  Maieres,  which  was 
changed  to  Myers  after  the  emigration  to  America.  The  grandfather 
of  Henry  Myers  was  named  Henri,  an  officer  in  the  Swiss  army.  His 
oldest  son  John,  also  a  Swiss  farmer,  was  captured  and  sent  to  Holland 
prior  to  1770,  but  was  afterwards  ransomed,  and  sent  to  America,  set- 
tling in  Chester  County.  He  married  one  of  the  Mendenhalls  of  that 
locality,  and  his  eldest  son,  born  January  i,  1789,  was  the  Henry 
Myers  who  married  Elizabeth  Frazer.  He  was  the  prothonotary, 
recorder  of  deeds,  register  of  wills  and  clerk  of  the  court  of  Delaware 
County  from  January  17,  1824,  to  December  30,  1832." 

"December  27,  1833,  ^^  ^^^^^  commissioned  one  of  the  associate 
judges  of  Delaware  County,  and  while  discharging  the  duties  of  that 
office  was  elected,  in  1836,  State  Senator  for  the  district  comprising 
Delaware,  Chester  and  Lancaster  Counties,  in  which  capacity  he 
served  for  four  years.  He  was  appointed  on  the  Committee  to  receive 
Lafayette  December  27,  1833.  Unfortunately,  the  temptations  of 
Harrisburg  were  too  great  for  his  strength,  and  his  career  was  not  a 
prosperous  one  thereafter.  He  lost  the  confidence  of  his  fellow 
citizens,  who  no  longer  elected  him  to  office,  dissipated  his  property, 

84 


and  on  February  23,  1855,  he  was  frozen  to  death  on  the  public  road 
near  Cobb's  Creek,  where  he  was  found  the  next  day." 

"The  family  home  at  that  time  was  in  Upper  Darby  township,  Dela- 
ware County,  a  short  distance  west  of  Cobb's  Creek.  It  had  been  in 
Concord  township  in  their  earlier  life." 


Generation  XVIII. 


The  children  of  Robert  Frazer  XVII-2 

By  his  first  wife  Mary  Ball  he  had  no  children. 

By  his  second  wife  Elizabeth  Fries  he  had  : 


Name 

Date 

of 
Birth 

Date 

of 

Marriage 

Name 

of 

Spouse 

Date 
of 
Death  Residence  and  Remarks 

I 

John  Persifor 

Dec. 

20 

1804 

never 

married 

Mch. 

14 
1805 

2 

Jacob  Taylor 

Apl. 

8 

1806 

(< 

i( 

Apl. 

ID 
1806 

3 

Anne  Fries 

July 

7 

1807 

Dec.  28 
1825 

Dr.  Jno.  Rhea 
Barton 

Nov. 

'J 
1837 

Philadelphia 

4 

Persifor 

June 
1809 

never 

married 

Apl. 

II 

1880 

Died  in  Rome,  Italy 

5 

John  Fries 

July 

8 

1812 

Sept.  I 
1838 

Charlotte 

(Jeffers) 

Cave 

Oct. 
12 

1872 

6 

Mary  Worrall 

Jan. 
1814 

never 

married 

June 

II 

1814 

By  his  th 

ird  wife  Alice  (Pennell)  Ya 

imall  he  had : 

7 

Joseph 
Pennell 
Afterwards 
nmed  Robert 

Dec. 

29 
1818 

May  26 
1846 

Jane 

Biddle 

Wood 

May 

4 
1878 

Philadelphia 

85 


"Anne  Fries  Frazer  (XVIII-3).  Her  husband,  John  Rhea  Barton, 
was,  perhaps,  the  most  distinguished  surgeon  of  his  day  in  Philadel- 
phia. After  the  deatli  of  his  first  wife  he  married  Susan  Rotcli, 
born  Susan  Ridgway,  daughter  of  Jacob  Ridgway,  a  wealthy  merchant 
of  Philadelphia,  and  the  widow  of  Mr.  Thomas  Rotch  of  New  Bedford, 
Mass. 


"Persifor  Frazer  (XVIII-4)  was  educated  for  the  legal  profession, 
but  when  he  had  finished  his  studies,  traces  of  pulmonary  weakness 
induced  him  to  spend  a  considerable  time  abroad.  After  his  return 
home  he  found  that  persons  with  whom  he  had  commenced  life  had 
progressed  so  far  that  should  he  then  begin  the  practice  of  law  he 
would  no  longer  be  in  the  same  class  with  them,  and  as  he  had  a  com- 
petence, he  decided  that  he  would  not  embark  in  business.  He  spent 
much  of  his  life  abroad,  though  he  considered  it  to  l)e  the  duty  of  a 
loyal  American  to  be  in  his  own  country  during  the  Civil  War.  But  on 
the  whole,  he  found  a  large  society  of  congenial  people  with  interests 
similar  to  his  own  on  the  continent  of  Europe,  so  that  he  returned 
there  from  time  to  time,  and  he  was  in  Rome,  Italy,  when  he  died 
from  an  attack  of  Roman  fever." 

"He  was  a  man  of  literary  tastes,  well  read  in  history  and 
belles-letters.  He  had  kindly  impulses,  and  a  strong  family  affection, 
and  he  did  many  things  to  make  easier  the  lot  of  those  of  his  relatives 
who  were  less  fortunate  than  himself." 

"He  gave  a  good  deal  of  attention  to  the  question  of  the  Frazer 
ancestry,  and  his  researches  in  France,  Ireland  and  Scotland  throw  a 
good  deal  of  light  on  the  question." 


"John  Fries  Frazer  (XVIII-5)  was  graduated  from  the  University 
of  Pennsylvania  with  the  highest  honors  in  the  class  of  1830.  He 
afterwards  took  complete  courses  of  study  in  medicine  and  law,  and 
was  admitted  to  the  Bar  of  Philadelphia  in  1833,  after  passing  a 
brilliant  examination.  He  was  prevented  by  absence  from  Philadelphia 
from  passing  an  equally  brilliant  examination  in  medicine.  As  he  had 
a  taste  for  scientific  pursuits,  he  entered  the  service  of  the  First  Geo- 
logical Survey  of  Pennsylvania,  in  which  he  was  an  assistant  from  1836 
to  1838  under  Henry  D.  Rogers,  State  Geologist. 

Upon  the  organization  of  the  Central  High  School  of  Philadelphia, 
as  the  capstone  of  the  structure  of  public  school  education,  by  his  life- 
long friend,  Alexander  Dallas  Bache,  John  Frazer  was  appointed  Pro- 
fessor of  Natural  Philosophy  in  that  Institution,  which  position  he  held 
from  October,  1842  to  April,  1844. 

In  1844  he  was  appointed  to  the  chair  of  Natural  Philosophy  and 

86 


Chemistry  in  the  University  of  Pennsylvania  and  continued  to  dis- 
charge the  duties  of  that  position  during  the  rest  of  his  hfe.  He 
received  from  the  University  of  Lewisburg  the  degree  of  Ph.  D. 
in  1854,  that  of  LL.  D.  from  Harvard  College  in  1857,  was  the 
Vice-Provast  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania  from  1855  to  1868, 
a  Vice-President  of  the  American  Philosophical  Society  from  1855  to 
1858,  a  life  member  of  the  Academy  of  Natural  Science,  one  of  the  in- 
corporators of  the  National  Academy  of  Science,  of  which  he  contin- 
ued a  member  throughout  his  life,  and  Editor  of  the  Journal  of  the 
Franklin  Institute  from  1850  to  1866. 

"He  had,  to  an  exceptional  degree,  the  family  gift  of  wit  and 
humor.  He  was  the  intimate  associate  of  many  of  the  leading  scien- 
tific men  of  his  day.  He  was  very  much  respected  and  admired  by 
those  who  came  under  his  influence  as  a  teacher,  and  was  one  of  the 
strongest  men  who  have  held  a  professional  chair  in  the  University  of 
Pennsylvania." 

"He  died  suddenly  of  a  heart  attack  at  the  University  on  the  eve 
of  the  opening  of  the  first  course  in  its  present  position  in  West  Phila- 
phia,  the  day  after  the  faculty  took  possession  of  the  new  buildings. 

His  wife,  Charlotte,  was  a  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Sarah  Hollins- 
head  Cave,  of  Philadelphia,  born  September  12,  1815,  died  at  Lenox, 
Massachusetts,  August  19,  1881.  Her  father  was  a  merchant  of  Phila- 
delphia, and  Apothecary  General  during  the  War  of  1812;  and  her 
mother  was  a  daughter  of  Major  John  Hollinshead,  of  New  Jersey,  an 
officer  of  the  line  of  the  Continental  Army  in  the  Revolutionary  War, 
and  an  original  member  of  the  Society  of  the  Cincinnati.* 


"Joseph  Pennell  Frazer  (XVHI-7)  was  also  educated  as  a  lawyer, 
and  was  admitted  to  practice  at  the  Bar  of  Delaware  County  February 
24,  1845.  His  inheritance  was  left  in  the  hands  of  Henry  Myers,  hus- 
band of  his  aunt  Elizabeth  Frazer  (XVH-io),  who  failed  to  account  for 
it  satisfactorily,  so  that  his  fortune  proved  less  than  that  of  his  half- 
brothers  and  sister.  His  name  was  changed  at  his  father's  death,  and 
was  Robert  Frazer  after  that  time.  He  was  deputy  Attorney  General 
of  Pennsylvania  in  1845,  being  appointed  in  February  of  that  year. 
He  was  the  second  President  of  the  Camden  and  Atlantic  Railroad, 
and  was  afterward  President  of  the  Wilmington  and  Reading  Railroad. 
He  died  of  apoplexy  May  4,  1878." 

"His  wife,  a  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Fanny  Collins  Wood,  was  born 
February  14,  1820,  and  died  August  29,  1879. 

Joseph  S.  Harris. 


♦From  whom  the  author  of  this  book  inherits  membership  in  that  Society. 

87 


Generation  XIX. 

The  children  of  John  Fries  Frazer  (XVIII-5)  and  Charlotte  (Jeffers) 

Cave  (XVIII-i). 


Date 

Date 

Name 

Date 

Name 

of 

of 

of 

of 

Residence  and  Remarks 

Birth 

Marriage 

Spouse 

Death 

, 

Anne 

July 

May  10 

Rev.  Thos.  K. 

Dr.  Conrad  was  born 

24 

1882 

Conrad 

Jan.  19,   1836,  and  died 

1839 

May  28,  1893. 

2 

Sarah 

Feb. 
1841 

May  30 
1861 

Richard 
Lewis 
Ashhurst 

3 

Persifor 

July 

24 

1844 

Sept.  2 
1871 

Isabella 
Nevins 
Whelen 

Generation  XX. 

The  children  of  Persifor  Frazer  (XIX-3)  and  Isabella  Nevins 
Whelen  (XIX-2). 


I 

Charlotte 

Sept. 

I* 
1872 

2 

Persifor 

July 

3 
1874 

April 
12 
1898 

Mary 

Newbold 

Welsh 

3 

Laurence 

Feb. 

II 

1878 

June 

29 

1881 

Died  at  Buffalo  Ridge 
Springs,   Va. 

4 

John 

Feb. 

5 
1882 

Born  202  Rue  de  Rivoli, 
Paris,  France. 

88 


APPENDIX. 


Notes  and  researches  relative  to  the  early  history  of  the  descendants  of 
Persifor  Frazer  (XIV-i),  with  correspondence,  etc. 

Copy  of  a  rough  pencil  sketch  of  a  search  in  the  County  Monaghan 
by  Persifor  Frazer  (XVIII-4,  born  1809)  for  traces  of  the  former  resi- 
dence there  of  his  great-great  grandfather  of  the  same  name. 
July  5.  1846.  I  left  the  Dublin  railway  at  9  A.M.  —  took  the  Belfast 
mail  from  Drogheda  to  Newry  and  thence  by  car  to  Armagh  where  I 
arrived  about  2  1/2  P.M.  The  next  day  hearing  that  a  Mr.  Nathaniel 
Greacen  aged  about  80  years  lived  in  Armagh  and  kept  a  stationery 
shop  —  I  called  to  see  him  under  the  supposition  that  he  was  the  N.  G. 
mentioned  in  Robert  Greacen's  letter  to  Persifor  Frazer.  He  turned 
out  to  be  another  but  had  known  Robert  G.  and  his  brothers  who  are 

all  dead  —  Of well  of  them  — informed  me  that  the  suit 

with  Rev  d  M'Curdy  was  not  a  hapc  of  nonsense  but  had  not  succeeded 
nevertheless  for  want  of  attention  —  he  informed  me  that  Mrs.  Mary 
Wilson  wife  of  George  Wilson  and  a  niece  of  R.  Graecen  of  whom  he 
speaks  in  (one)  of  his  letters  as  the  daughter  of  his  sister  Mary,  was  still 
living  near  Glasslough. 

Drove  over  to  Glasslough  —  Stopt  by  chance  at  the  house  of  a  Mr. 
M'Curdy  who  was  a  son  of  the  Rev  McCurdy  former  Presbyterian 
clergyman  of  Glasslough  with  whom  Robert  Greacen  had  the  lawsuit  — 
he  informed  me  that  his  mother  was  a  Cruikshank  and  directed  me  to 
Mrs  Wilson's  —  Called  on  Wm.  Walker  the  Parish  clerk  who  stated 
that  there  was  no  Parish  register  as  far  back  as  1740  —  did  not  recol- 
lect any  tombstone  with  the  name  of  Frazer  in  the  church  yard.  Went 
with  the  sexton  to  the  church  yard  and  hunted  in  vain  for  a  tomb- 
stone —  the  sexton  pointed  out  to  me  the  townland  of  Tonynyhamigin 
(sic)  —  where  P.  Frazer  had  lived  —  it  is  across  the  lough  towards 
Middleton.  Clanickney  is  beyond  that  again  —  most  of  Clanickney  is 
now  occupied  by  Wilson  the  son  of  George  and  Mary  W.  —  it  appears 
to  have  come  into  the  hands  of  the  Greacens  after  the  death  of  Robt. 
Smith  and  to  have  remained  since  in  their  family  — 
The  town  clerk  informed  me  of  a  Mr  and  Mrs  Dunlap  who  had  lived  at 
Tonyhamigin  until  within  a  few  years.     There  is  now  no  house  on  the 

89 


townland  —  it  belongs  to  the  estate  of  the  Leslies  and  was  probably 
held  by  P.  Frazer  on  a  lease  — 

I  then  called  at  Mr  Wolf's  the  Vicar  —  he  was  not  at  home,  but  a 
young  girl  showed  me  the  parish  records  —  They  went  back  no  further 
that  1792. —  no  one  so  far  could  give  me  any  record  of  the  Frazers,  nor 
appeared  to  have  ever  heard  of  them. 

I  then  drove  out  to  Mullaban  (?)  about  i  1/2  miles  from  Glasslough 
the  residence  of  Mrs.  Wilson  —  it  is  a  small  farm  house  of  stone  but  of 
the  most  ordinary  construction  and  appearance.  —  No  one  was  at 
home  but  herself  and  she  was  bed  ridden. — 

She  recollected  having  heard  the  marriage  of  her  Grandmother's  sister 
with  John  Frazer  spoken  of  —  said  it  was  without  the  knowledge  or 
consent  of  the  family  and  distressed  them  very  much  —  Mrs.  Frazer 
was  the  the  eldest  of  the  sisters  and  was  much  looked  up  to  by  the 
others  —  her  own  [grand  (?)] mother  Mrs  Greacen  was  the  young- 
est.—  There  was  a  brother  named  Andrew  who  was  killed  by  accident 
at  the  burning  of  the  mansion  house  at  Clanickney  —  he  left  no  issue — 
Alexander  Smith  who  had  the  house  at  C. —  was  a  cousin  and  not  a 
brother  — he  left  two  daughters  Elizabeth  and  Margaretta  — does  not 
know  what  became  of  them  — 

The  children  of  Robert  Smith  were  Mary  Frazer,  Eliz/th  Greacen,  Mar- 
tha Wilson,  Ellen  Morrison  (went  to  America),  Jane  Armstrong,  Sally 
Cruikshank,  Margaretta  who  went  to  Dublin  but  could  not  say  whether 
she  married  or  not.  From  Mrs  Wilson's  I  drove  to  Donagh  church 
yard  about  1/2  a  mile  off  and  searched  it  in  company  with  some  men 
who  appeared  familiar  with  the  tombs  but  in  vain.  —  None  of  them 
recollected  having  seen  the  name  of  Frazer  (I  found  the  tomb  of  the 
Greacens  in  Glasslough  church  yard). 

Many  of  the  tombs  were  very  ancient  and  going  back  to  the  17th 
Century  —  in  the  oldest  the  letters  were  cut  in  relief.  There  were  a 
great  many  old  graves  with  unlettered  headstones.  — 
From  Donagh  I  went  to  Emyvale  to  see  an  old  couple  Mr  and  Mrs 
Dunlap  who  had  lived  in  Tonnyha.  .  .gan  — neither  of  them  recollected 
anything  about  P.  Frazer  except  that  Mrs  D. —  said  that  there  was  a 
hill  that  was  known  as  Pers'  brae  —  She  recollected  John  Frazer 
marrying  a  Miss  Smith  but  said  positively  at  first  that  she  was  a  sister 
of  Alexander  Smith  and  not  a  daughter  of  Robt.  Smith,  but  when  I 
told  her  what  Mrs.  Wilson  had  said  she  acknowledged  that  Mrs  W.  — 
was  more  likely  to  be  correct,  and  she  herself  might  be  mistaken. 
Mr  and  Mrs.  D —  are  about  90  years  of  age  as  I  was  informed — She 
said  that  her  grandfather  the  Rev'd  Mr  Kennedy  had  purchased  the 
holding  of  the  Tonnyhamigin  property  from  a  Mr  Flack  before  she  was 
born.  Mr  F.  had  gone  to  America  — 
I  then  returned  towards  Armagh  stopping  at  the  Rev'd  Mr  Smith's 

90 


the  presbyterian  clergyman  of  Glasslough  but  likely  to  be  superseded 
or  actually  suspended  — he  could  give  me  no  information  and  said 
there  was  no  presbyterian  records  of  that  date  —  I  went  thence  to 
Caledon  church  yard  but  had  no  success  in  my  search  and  then  returned 
to  Armagh  the  same  evening. 


Copy  of  correspondence  of  Persifor  Frazer  (XVIII-4,  b.    1809) 
with  Wni.  N.  Frazer  Esq.  SS.C. 


41  Albany  St.  Edinburgh 


Balmoral  hotel  Princes  St 
Aug.  1 2th,  1879 


Dear  Sir 

Although  quite  unknown  to  you,  I  take  the  liberty  of  address- 
ing you  with  the  purpose  of  asking  some  information  that  I  think  you 
can  give  me,  on  a  subject  in  which  I  am  interested  —  I  am  induced  to 
do  so  from  having  seen  your  name  in  a  back  number  of  'Notes  and 
Queries'  mentioned  as  one  likely  to  possess  the  information  I  desire. 
Were  I  not  entirely  stranger  in  Great  Britain  I  should  have  sought  a 
line  of  introduction  to  you  but  with  the  exception  of  my  banker  in 
London  and  a  few  casual  acquaintances  met  on  the  continent  I  know 
no  one  in  the  Kingdom  and  am  a  loss  to  whom  to  apply. 

I  have  come  to  Scotland  principally  to  search  for  some  trace  of  the 
origin  of  my  Great-Great-Grand  father,  Persifor  Frazer,  who  went 
from  Scotland  to  Ireland,  A.D.  1690  and  settled  in  County  Monaghan 
Ireland,  where  it  is  supposed  he  died  and  was  buried  —  His  only  son 
John  emigrated  to  America  A.D.  1735  and  settled  at  Philadelphia 
where  his  descendants  still  reside  —  The  only  letter  we  have  of  Persifor 
Frazer  addressed  to  his  son  proves  him  to  have  been  a  man  of  educa- 
tion,and  tradition  says  that  he  was  a  cousin  of  LordLovat.* — Although 
he  is  supposed  to  have  gone  to  Ireland  with  the  army  of  William  III 
there  are  amongst  his  papers  two  letters  one  signed  'the  King'  and  ad- 
dressed to  Lord  Kelso  or  Kindhedyf  (I  am  not  sure  of  the  name),  and 
another  apparently  written  by  his  ...  that  must  imply  a  previous 
connection  with  the  cause  of  the  Stuarts.     These  with  the  rather  odd 

♦Mrs.  Martha  Morris  recollects  having  heard  John  Watson  a  Scotchman  who 
was  a  soldier  in  her  father's  regiment  say  that  he  heard  that  Persifor  Frazer  who 
went  to  Ireland  was  of  the  Frazers  of  Frazerdale,  and  thinks  that  he  said  that  he 
was   a  cousin   of   Simon   Lord  Lovat.     (Slip  tacked  on  to  above  paper  of  notes.) 

tSee  ante  p.  11  et  seq.  .,    '  _ 

91 


name  Pcrsifor  which  I  have  never  met  with  out  of  our  own  family  and 
which  possibly  was  assumed  ("Per  se  fortis")  lead  me  to  think  that  he 
might  be  identical  with  the  Frazer  who  killed  the  piper  and  who  after- 
wards took  refuge  in  Wales.  It  is  not  improbable  that  he  changed  his 
first  name,  the  spelling  of  his  family  name  and  perhaps  also  his  politics 

The  questions  I  am  desirous  to  have  answered  are  as  follows 

1.  Was  it  Alexander  the  eldest  son  of  Thomas  of  Beaufort  who  killed 

the  piper?  If  not,  who  was  it? 

2.  When  was  the  man  killed?     If  after  the  year  1690  my  theory  falls 

to  the  ground  —  an  article  in  'Notes  and  Queries'  Oct.  2.  1858 
says  that  it  occurred  "sometime  before  1692". 

3.  Is  it  known  if  Alexander  Frazer,  (or  the  refugee  if  he  was  another) 

married?  if  so  whom?  My  ancestor's  wife  was  Margery 
Calton  or  Carlton,  l)ut  whether  he  married  in  Scotland  or  Ire- 
land is  unknown.  His  only  son  John  was  born  A.D.  1709  — 
this  implies  a  later  marriage. 

4.  Have  you  in  your  genealogical  researches  or  elsewhere  met  with 

the  name  "Persifor"? 

Allow  me  to  add  that  I  am  pursuing  the  inquiry  relative  to  my 
ancestors  simply  for  my  own  satisfaction  and  with  no  designs  whatever 
on  the  Lovat  title  or  estates.  There  is  I  am  informed  a  Mr  Fraser  from 
America  who  claims  to  be  a  descendant  of  Alexander  Frazer  the  son  of  Thos.  of 
Beaufort  and  who  intends  claiming  the  title  of  Lovat  when  he  can  make  his  prepara- 
tions, but  I  do  not  know  him  and  have  no  connection  with  him. 

I  have  now  but  to  apologize  for  the  liberty  I  have  taken  in  writing 
to  you.  I  aiTi  aware  that  I  have  no  claim  whatever  on  your  time  or  at- 
tention, and  had  I  known  any  other  way  of  getting  the  information  I 
want,  I  should  not  have  presuined  to  have  troubled  you. 

If  you  can  answer  any  or  all  of  the  questions  above  given  and,  will 
kindly  do  so  you  will  lay  mel  under  a  great  obligation  and  I  offer  you 
my  very  warm  thanks  in  advance  whether  you  can  or  not. 

Accept  my  sincere  apologies  for  my  indiscretion  in  addressing  you. 

Very  respectfully 

your  obedient  Servant 

Persifor  Frazer* 

of  Philadelphia,  U.  States  of  America 

•Born  180C) 

92 


Tornaveen 
Aberdeenshire 

17th  Aug.  1879 
Dear  Sir 

Your  note  of  the  12th  inst.  has  been  forwarded  to  me  here 
where  I  am  having  some  shooting.  This  will  account  for  the  delay  in 
replying  to  it.  If  I  can  be  of  any  use  to  you  in  your  investigations  it 
would  give  me  much  pleasure  and  as  I  hope  to  be  in  Edinburgh  in  the 
course  of  a  few  days  I  shall  do  myself  the  pleasure  of  calling  for  you. 

It  is  generally  understood  that  the  Fraser  who  slew  the  piper  fled  to 
Wales,  and  a  namesake  of  ours  has  been  engaged  for  many  years  in  try- 
ing to  trace  his  descent  from  the  place  in  question.  I  am  almost  cer- 
tain I  have  some  notes  on  the  subject  which  I  may  be  able  to  lay  my 
hands  upon  on  my  return  to  town. 

I  rather  think  the  Event  took  place  subsequent  to  1690. 
I  never  met  with  the  name  of  "Persifor." 

A  son  by  a  2nd  marriage  of  my  Great  Grandfather  (Francis  Fraser 
of  Findrack)  emigrated  to  America,  now  nearly  a  century  ago.  Daniel 
was  his  name  and  I  believe  he  married  and  had  children,  but  we  have 
now  lost  all  trace  of  the  family. 

In  the  hope  of  seeing  you  soon  Believe  me 

Yours  truly 
Persifor  Frazer  Esq. 

Wm.  N.  Fraser 


Unsigned  rough  draft  of  letter  to  Wm.  N.  Fraser,  Edinburgh 
From  Persifor  Frazer  (XVIII-4,  b.  1809) 

Liverpool,  Aug.  20th,  '79 

Dear  Sir 

Your  favor  of  the  17th  inst.  came  to  hand  this  morning.  I 
left  Edinburgh  on  Sunday  last,  to  accompany  my  sister  in  law  and  niece 
who  have  come  here  to  embark  for  home  New  York.  Not  having 
heard  from  you  at  that  date,  I  thought  it  probable  that  you  were  from 
home  and  dispaired  of  hearing  from  you  —  I  thank  you  very  much  for 
your  kind  note  and  regret  having  left  Edinburgh  without  seeing  you  — 

renounced 
The  weather  has  been  and  is  so  comfortable  that  I  have  postponed 

for  the  present 
renounced  further  my  intended  visit  to  the  north  of  Scotland.     On  your 
return  to  Edinburgh  would  you  be  able  to  ascertain,  even  approxi- 
mately the  date  of  the  killing  of  the  piper,  you  will  confer  a  great  favor 
on  me  by  informing  me  of  it  —  My  address  up  to  Monday  25th  inst. 

93 


will  be  care  of  Baring  brothers  and  Co.  London  E.  C.  after  that  care  of 
Drexel  Harjes  and  Cie.  Paris,  France. 

Frazers  in  America  of  whom  I  know  anything  are  uncommon. — 
One  in  S.  Carolina  was  a  prominent  agent  of  the  Confederate  gov- 
ernment in  the  late  rebellion  —  another  of  New  Jersey,  who  claimed 
the  title  of  Lovat  some  forty  years  since,  I  think  is  a  descendant  of 
the  Master  of  Lovat,  the  son  of  Simon  Lord  Lovat,  though  an  article  in 
N.  and  Q;  says  as  a  descendant  of  John  the  brother  of  Simon  he  has 
since  died  —  The  Princess  Murat  now  living  in  Paris  is  his  daughter  — 
There  is,  as  I  am  informed  another  Mr  Fraser  from  the  U.  States  now 
in  England  who  is  preparing  to  claim  the  Lovat  title  as  a  descendant 
of  Alex.  Fraser  —  But  I  am  not  acquainted  with  him  —  There  is  also  a 
Mr.  James  Fraser  a  merchant  in  Cincinnati  —  I  met  him  many  years 
since  at  Newport  a  sea-bathing  place  in  Rhode  Island  —  we  were  so 
much  alike  that  his  intimate  friends  frequently  mistook  me  for  him 
and  mine  mistook  him  for  me  —  On  comparing  notes  we  could  trace 
no  connexion  through  the  ancestors  of  both  were  Scotchmen — He  may 
possibly  be  a  descendant  of  the  Daniel  Frazer  you  mentioned  though  I 
do  not  recollect  that  he  mentioned  that  name  in  speaking  of  his  ances- 
tors—  also  know  a  Mr.  Wm.  Wm.  Fraser  of  Halifax  Nova  Scotia 
whom  I  met  in  California  in  1848  or  9  —  I  think  that  the  name  occurs 
not  unfrequently  in  Canada  but  I  have  not  known  any  then  who  held 
it. —  A  Mr.  Homer  Dixon  of  Boston  who  married  many  years  since  the 
daughter  of  the  Chief  Justice  of  Canada  and  resided  afterwards  at  To- 
ronto, told  me  that  he  was  descended  through  his  mother  from  the 
chevalier  John  Frazer  the  brother  of  Simon.  I  think  that  he  had  a 
portrait  of  him  that  had  come  down  in  his  family  I  have  not  seen  him 
for  many  years  and  do  not  know  whether  he  is  still  alive. 


Unsigned  rough  draft  of  letter  to  Wm.   N.   Frazer  by   Persifor 
Frazer  (b.  1809)  (XVni-4). 

Paris,  Sept.  9th,  1879. 
Dear  Sir 

I  wrote  you  on  the  21st,  ulto.  from  Liverpool  in  reply  to 
your  favor  from  Tornaveen,  and  asked  you  to  kindly  send  me  a  line  to 
London  or  Paris  and  inform  me,  if  you  could  do  so,  of  the  date  of  the 
slaying  of  the  piper  by  Alexn.  Fraser  that  occurred  between  1689  and 
1692  I  have  not  heard  from  you,  I  suppose  either  that  my  letter  has 
miscarried  or  that  you  have  not  found  time  to  comply  with  my  re- 
quest —  If  you  will  do  so,  at  your  convenience,  you  will  greatly 
oblige  me  —  I  writing  hurriedly  in  the  public  room  of  the  hotel  at 
Liverpool.     I  neglected  to  enclose  a  foreign  postage  stamp,  which  I 

94 


should  have  done,  I  now  enclose  three  stamps  and  beg  you  to  Pardon 
my  forgetfulness  —  In  the  summer  of  '78  I  was  at  Tours  with  some 
leisure  time  on  my  hands,  and  employed  it  in  looking  up  'La  Frezeliere, 
the  estate  of  Rene  Frezel  the  father  of  Simon  Frezel,  who  came  to 
England  with  William  of  Normandy  and  who  is  supposed  to  be  the 
ancestors  of  the  Erasers  of  Scotland — with  perseverance  and  some  good 
luck  I  succeeded  in  finding  it  —  It  was  not  in  Touraine  as  is  stated  in 
the  "British  Peerages"  but  in  the  adjoining  province  of  Anjou.  These 
provinces  no  longer  exist  except  in  name  —  should  you  ever  take  a  run 
across  the  channel  and  feel  any  curiosity  to  visit  the  place  —  you  will 
find  it  in  the  Department  of  Mayenne,  seven  kilometres  (4  1/2  Eng. 
miles)  to  the  Northward  of  Chateau-Goutier  —  a  town  of  some  import- 
ance and  about  a  mile  to  the  Eastward  of  the  village  of  Loigne  of 
course  it  is  no  longer,  a  Seigneurie,  as  they  were  all  abolished  at  the 
French  revolution, —  but  a  farm,  still  retaining  its  name  of  la  Fre- 
zeliere —  The  Chateau  no  longer  exists  but  some  portion  of  the  office 
and  the  kitchen  have  been  incorporated  in  the  farm  buildings  notably  a 
stout  stone  round  tower  with  a  winding  staircase  inside  —  The  Maire 
of  Loigne  who  showed  me  over  the  place,  seems  to  know  more  about  it 
than  any  one  else,  he  lived  there  in  his  youth  his  father  being  the  ten- 
ant of  the  property.  —  You  doubtless  know  the  name  of  the  French 
Branch  of  the  family,  les  Marquis  de  la  Frezeliere  from  Frezel  became 
Frczeau  as  that  of  the  Scotch  branch  became  Eraser  — 
.Excuse  me  for  — 


Tornaveen 

Aberdeenshire 

15th  Sept.  1879. 
Dear  Sir 

Your  most  interesting  letter  of  the  9th  inst.  has  been  for- 
warded to  me  here  I  am  now  able  to  inform  you  that  the  date  of  slay- 
ing the  piper  by  Alexander  Eraser  was  in  1689.  This  appears  from  a 
Judicial  investigation  with  the  circumstances  which  took  place  before 
the  Sheriff  at  Inverness  when  an  illigitimate  Brother  of  his  was  exam- 
ined as  a  witness. 

The  information  your  letter  gives  is  certainly  most  interesting  and 
the  next  time  I  visit  France  I  shall  if  possible  take  a  run  to  "Loigne" — 
in  order  to  see  the  Chateau  la  Frezeliere  — It  would  be  possible  I  pre- 
sume by  writing  to  the  "Maire  of  Loigne"  to  obtain  a  photograph  of 
what  remains  of  a  building  of  so  much  interest  to  our  name. 

An  account  of  the  Erasers  particularly  of  the  family  of  Philorth  now 
represented  by  Lord  Saltoun,  who  is  unquestionably  the  head  of  the 

95 


Erasers  in  Scotland  was  recently  printed  for  private  circulation.  His 
Lordship  has  presented  copies  to  the  principal  Libraries  in  Scotland 
and  I  think  it  not  unlikely  that  he  may  have  sent  a  copy  to  what  was 
called  when  I  was  last  in  Paris  —  the  "Imperial  Library" — 

I  was  much  disappointed  at  not  seeing  you  when  in  Edinburgh  — 
as  mentioned  in  a  former  note,  which  I  hope  you  received,  I  called  for 
you  at  the  Hotel  but  found  you  had  left  —  Should  you  visit  Scotland 
again  I  hope  to  be  more  fortunate  and  if  I  can  discover  anything  which 
may  assist  you  in  your  investigations  connected  with  Alexander  Fraser 
I  shall  not  fail  to  communicate  with  you. 

Believe  me 

Yours  very  truly 

Wm.  N.  Fraser 
Persifor  Fraser  Esq. 


Two  years  after  the  death  of  my  Uncle,  Persifor  Frazer  (1S09 
XVni-4),  I  went  to  Dublin  for  the  purpose  of  getting  some  light  on 
the  early  family  history. 

One  George  A.  Thompson  a  public  searcher  was  first  employed 
to  examine  the  records  of  the  Register's  Office  for  any  information 
which  it  might  contain,  but  the  search  was  fruitless. 

Mr.  Solicitor  L  C.  Doran  was  then  retained  to  make  similar  investi- 
gations which  had  also  been  without  result  up  to  the  time  when 
I  met  Sir  Bernard  Burke,  Ulster  King  at  Arms,  at  Dublin  Cas- 
tle, who  very  kindly  undertook  to  use  his  exceptional  facilities  and  ex- 
perience to  the  desired  end,  and  Mr.  Doran's  services  were  dispensed 
with.* 

Sir  Bernard's  researches  were  also  fruitless,  as  the  following  letters 
will  show. 

Letter  from  Sir  Bernard  Burke  to  Persifor  Frazer  (XIX-3,  b.  1844) 

Dublin  Castle 

14  Aug.  1882. 
My  dear  Sir, 

As  I  apprehended  your  ancestor  Persifor  Frazer  has  left 
no  genealogical  trace  in  this  Country  as  far  as  I  can  see.  A  minute 
search  through  the  local  Wills,  not  only  those  of  the  Diocese  of 
Clogher,  but  also  of  Armagh,  has  produced  no  results.     I  am  quite 

♦If  any  one  doubt  the  statement  that  these  investigations  were  being  car- 
ried on  in  Ireland,  one  item  in  the  bill  which  the  learned  Solicitor  rendered  for  his 
valuable  services  would  dispel  that  doubt:  it  was  "For  reading  documents  some 
of  which  were  illegible — 8  s.") 

96 


sure  that  it  would  be  quite  useless  to  investigate  further  in  this  Coun- 
try. The  pencil  notes  enclosed  contain  the  various  Wills  that  have 
been  Consulted. 

I  return  the  papers  you  left  with  me,  and  express  my  regret  that  I 
have  been  of  so  little  service. 

Yours  very  truly 

J.    Bernard    Burke* 

Ulster 


Dublin  Castle 

21  August,  1882 
My  dear  Sir, 

There  is  no  charge  whatever  for  the  genealogical  enquiry 
I  made  for  you.  It  afforded  me  pleasure  to  make  it  and  it  caused  me 
regret  that  my  researches  were  unavailing 

Yours  very  truly 

J.  Bernard  Burke 


Tornaveen 
Aberdeenshire 

31st  July  82 
Dear  Sir, 

I,  am  this  morning  in  receipt  of  yours  of  28th  inst. —  and 
regret  extremely  to  hear  of  your  Uncle's  death  as  from  the  terms  of  his 
letter  I  had  formed  a  high  opinion  of  his  intelligence  and  the  good  feel- 
ing he  showed  in  the  interest  he  took  in  the  name  he  bore. 

I  expect  to  be  in  Edin.  towards  the  end  of  this  week  but  only  for  a 
day  —  or  two  —  when  I  return  to  this  to  remain  until  the  1 1  th  prox/o. 
when  I  start  for  shooting  quarters  to  remain  for  a  week  or  so  —  Tf  you 
come  North,  after  that  date,  I  shall  be  delighted  to  see  you  here  either 
going  to  or  returning  from  Inverness  —  This  place  is  only  about  an 
hour  from  Aberdeen  to  our  nearest  station.  "Torphius"  Deeside 
Rwy.  is  at  no  distance  from  this. 

In  case  I  sho/d.  be  in  Edin.  at  the  time  you  are  there,  I  hope  you 
will  drop  me  a  note  before  you  arrive  as  I  would  certainly  like  to  see 
you  and  introduce  you  to  one  or  two  friends  who  might  be  able  to  as- 
sist you  in  your  investigations  —  I  have  not  as  yet  met  with  the  name 
of  "Persifor",  but  I  hope  it  will  yet  be  found — 

The  first  settlement  of  the  Eraser  family —  after  quitting  Peeble- 

*Author  of  Burke's  Peerage  etc. 

97 


shire  —  was  in  this  part  of  the  Country  —  not  in  Invernessshire  as  is 
popularly  supposed  —  They  got  enormous  estates  in  Kincardineshire 
and  this  county  from  Robert  the  Bruce  and  King  David  ist  and  nth  — 
1  refer  particularly  to  the  thanedoms  of  Covvie  and  Dueris  (?)  —  and 
other  Lands  —  in  this  and  the  adjoining  County  of  Kincardine  —  The 
family  came  into  possession  of  the  Lovat  Estates  in  Invernessshire  by 
marriage  at  a  subsequent  date.  All  this  however  I  daresay  you  are 
aware  of  — 

Believe  me 
Dear  Sir 
Yours  very  truly 

W.  N.  Fraser 
Persifor  Fraser  Esq. 


41  Albany  St. 

Friday 
Dear  Sir 

I  shall  be  glad  to  see  you  here  say  at  12  o'clock. 
Unfortunately  I  am  obliged  to  leave  again  for  the  North  tomorrow 
morning. 

Ys  truly 

Wn.  N.  Fraser 
Persifor  Fraser  Esq. 


Letters  from  Lord  Saltoun  to  Persifor  Frazer  (XIX-3,  b.  1844) 

Philorth 
September  5th  1882 

Fraserburgh. 
Sir 

I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  your  letter  of  the  3rd,  and,  if  I 
had  received  it  when  it  was  in  my  power  to  comply  with  your  request,  it 
would  have  given  be  much  gratification  to  present  a  copy  of  the  "The 
Erasers  of  Philorth"  to  The  Philadelphia  Library;  but  I  regret  to  be 
obliged  to  say,  that  it  is  entirely  out  of  my  power  to  do  so;  for  there 
were  only  one  hundred  and  fifty  copies  printed,  and  I  assure  you  that 
I  have  given  away  one  hundred  and  forty  nine  of  them,  and  have  only 
one  copy  in  my  possession,  or  in  any  way  at  my  disposal. 

98 


I  am  extremely  sorry  that  I  am  thus  absolutely  unable  to  do  what 
you  ask,  but,  if  you  wish  to  consult  the  book  during  your  stay  in  Lon- 
don, I  may  mention  that  there  is  a  Copy  in  the  Reading-room  of  the 
British  Museum,  and  another  at  the  Heralds  College. 

I  have  the  honor 
to  be  Sir 
Your  obedient  servant 

„    „     ,  Saltoun 

1  o  Professor  Persifor  Frazer 


Philorth 
Sept.  13th  1882 

Fraserburgh. 
Dear  Sir 

I  have  to  thank  you  for  your  kind  note,  received  last  night 
which  deepens  my  regret  at  being  unable  to  do  what  you  requested. 

I  shall  be  most  happy  to  receive  a  copy  of  your  Theses,  when  it  is 
convenient  for  you  to  send  me  one,  and,  as  we  had  a  little  ceremony  at 
traserburgh,  yesterday  in  the  interest  of  Education,  I  have  taken  the 
liberty  of  sending  you  "The  Aberdeen  Journal",  containing  an  account 
of  the  proceedings,  which  you  may  like  to  see. 

I  remain 

faithfully  your's 
Saltoun 
To  Professor  Persifor  Frazer 

(Accompanied  by  a  newspaper  in  wrapper  containing  the  account 
spoken  of) 


The  late  Lord  Saltoun  was  one  of  the  highest  authorities  in  Great 
Britain  on  Heraldry  and  as  head  of  the  Frasers  in  Scotland,  and  author 
of  a  very  scholarly  "History  of  the  Frasers  of  Philorth,"  the  best  au- 
thority on  all  matters  concerning  the  Fraser  clan.  I  sent  him  a 
book-mark  with  a  coat  of  arms  and  crest  which  have  been  in  the 
family's  possession  during  its  residence  in  America.  The  following- 
letter  refers  to  this: 

Philorth 
Sept.  25th  1882 

Fraserburgh. 
My  dear  Sir 

I  have  to  thank  you  for  your  letter,  and  for  the  copy  of  the 
Theses.     The  subject  of  which  they  treat,  Geology,  is  a  very  interest- 

99 


ing  one,  and,  though  I  cannot  pretend  to  be  well  up  in  it,  I  have  no 
doubt  I  shall  receive  both  instruction,  and  pleasure,  when  1  have  the 
time  to  devote  to  their  perusal. 

I  must  also  gratefully  acknowledge  the  kind  and  complimentary 
expression  of  your  opinion  of  the  few  words  I  address  to  the  scholars, 
and  others,  at  the  opening  of  our  public  schools,  the  other  day. 

I  am  a  little  surprised  at  your  saying  that  the  Ostrich's  head,  (with- 
out the  horse  shoe.)  appears  in  one  of  the  plates  of  my  "History  of  the 
Frasers  of  Philorth" ;  for  the  only  plates,  in  which  it  appears,  are  the 
frontispiece  of  Vol  I,  and  the  Coat  of  Arms,  opposite  page  192  of  the 
same  Vol;  and  in  both  these  the  horse  shoe  is  present. 

Our  crest  is  not  an  Ostrich's  head,  but  the  whole  bird  in  Heraldic 
language,  "proper",  with  a  horse  shoe  in  its  beak,  and,  at  page  121  of 
Vol  I,  1  suggest  a  probable  explanation  of  the  reason  of  its  adoption  by 
Sir  Alexander  Fraser,  in  1375,  when  he  obtained  Old  Buchan  lands. 

The  coat  of  Arms,  of  which  you  enclose  an  engraving,  is  a  curious 
one.  The  Arms  are  those  of  Fraser,  common  to  all  the  branches  of 
the  family,  except  some,  who  bear  Hve  rosettes  or  cinquefoils,  placed 
sattirewise,  the  incorrectness  of  which  bearings  I  have  exposed,  pages 
89-91  of  Vol  I,  and  in  my  preface.*  But  the  crest  is  evidently  a  part  of 
that  of  our  family,  differenced  by  the  two  wings,  and  that  is  quite  ex- 
plicable. 

But  then,  the  motto  is  that  of  the  Lovat  branch  of  the  race. 

In  Heraldry,  although  the  arms  must  remain  the  same,  or  can  only 
be  differenced  according  to  certain  rules  and  regulations;  the  crest, 
and  motto,  are  not  essential  parts  of  the  Insignia,  and  may  be  changed 
at  pleasure;  and  I  think  this  explains  how  the  first  adopter  of  these 
Arms  took  his  crest  from  the  one,  his  motto  from  the  other,  of  the  two 
principal  families  of  the  name  which  he  was  Heraldically  quite  entitled 
to  do  if  it  pleased  him  to  compliment  those  families  in  that  manner. 

I  remain 

Your's  very  truly 
Saltoun 
To  Professor  Persifor  Frazer 

*To  "The  Frazers  of  Philorth." 


100 


The  following  note  was  elicited  from  a  friend  in  Ireland  by  a 
Roman  Catholic  priest  whom  I  met  on  the  steamer  from  Queenstown 
to  New  York,  and  who  promised  to  make  inquiries  for  some  trace  of 
Persifor  Frazer's  residence  at  or  near  Glasslough  in  the  early  part  of 
the  i8th  Century. 

Ballibay 
Co.  Monaghan.  April  14.  83 
My  dear  Father  Martin 

I  received  your  most  welcome  letter  in  due  time,  and  felt 
truly  happy  on  reading  that  you  and  F  McKenna  were  well,  and  suc- 
ceeding so  well  in  your  most  arduous  and  unpleasant  mission. 

I  enclose  with  this  letter  the  family  record  of  your  esteemed  friend 
Mr  Frazer,  but;  I  am  sorry,  that  I  have  not  succeeded  in  finding  the 
sought  for  information. 

I  called  on  Mr.  McCuUoch  who  is,  as  you  are  aware,  a  J.  P.  and 
agent  to  Sir  John  Leslie,  owner  of  Glasslough  and  all  the  lands  about 
it,  and  who,  I  thought,  would  be  the  most  likely  man  to  institute  a  suc- 
cessful search.  He  requested  the  Rector  to  examine  all  the  parish 
records,  but  he  could  find  no  trace.  I  also  asked  Mr  McCulloch  to 
search  the  estate  rent  rolls  for  the  same  purpose;  here  also  there  was 
no  trace. 

Mr.  McCulloch  tells  me  that  the  Leslie  family  in  those  days  were 
Jacobites,  and  fought  in  James'  army  against  Wm.  Ill,  and  that  it  was 
not  probable  that  any  of  William's  adherents  would  find  favor  with  the 
Leslie  family. 

I  need  not  tell  you  there  is  a  great  change  in  the  family  politics 
since  those  days. 

I  am  sorry  to  tell  you  our  poor  country  is  in  great  distress  at  pres- 

PTlt"  5p  5^  'F 

I  am  glad  to  tell  you  the  Bishop  and  priests  are  in  good  health. 

With  kindest  regards  to  F/r  McKenna  and  yourself  I  remain 
yours  ever  Sincerely 
L.  I.  O'Neill 
Rev.  Mr  Martin  to  Persifor  Frazer*. 


Letter  of  Wm.  N.  Fraser  to  Persifor  Frazer*. 
(enclosing  cutting  from  a  newspaper) 
41  Albany  Street 
Edinburgh. 

4th  Feby.  1886 
My  dear  Sir. 

Professor  James  Geikie  was  so  good  as  to  let  me  know  that 
he  had  heard  from  you  and  that  you  were  surprized  that  I  had  not 
written  to  you  on  the  subject  of  the  Lovat  Peerage  Case  —  I  can  as- 

*Born  1844. 

lOI 


sure  you  tlie  Post  office  is  at  fault,  not  me,  —  for  1  not  only  wrote  but 
sent  you  a  paper  containing  the  judgment  of  the  House  of  Lords  and 
I  am  therefore  much  disappointed  to  learn  that  the  paper  never  reach- 
ed you.  I  shall  try  and  get  a  copy  of  the  judgment  but  it  may  be  diffi- 
cult to  do  so  now  —  However  John  Fraser  the  Claimant  had  no  case  at 
all  —  It  was  a  complete  break  down  —  Nothing  was  proved  as  to  what 
became  of  Alex/r.  Fraser  after  he  slew  the  piper  —  at  any  rate  it  was 
proved  to  demonstration,  or  something  near  to  it,  that  Fraser  the 
"miner"  could  not  have  been  Lovat's  brother  as  he  would  have  been 
receiving  daily  wages  as  a  common  labourer  at  a  time  when  he  had 
reached  the  goodly  age  of  104  years.  I  rather  think  he  must  have 
Ijeen  84  or  85  years  of  age  (but  I  write  from  memory),  when  John 
Fraser's  ancestors  was  born  —  It  is  a  pity  the  poor  man  should  have 
thrown  away  his  money  in  such  a  venture.  I  think  1  mentioned  to 
you  that  John  Fraser  used  to  call  for  me  on  the  subject,  years  ago, 
when  I  told  him  that  his  case  appeared  to  me  to  be  hopeless.  It  is  a 
pity  his  legal  advisers  did  not  give  him  the  same  advice  —  after  the 
decision  of  the  case,  he  published  an  address  to  his  friends  about  In- 
verness, to  say  that  he  would  still  persevere.  I  fancy  however  that  we 
shall  hear  nothing  farther  about  it.  Sir  William  Fraser  Bar/t.  of 
Ledclune  made  himself  rather  conspicuous  in  this  affair.  He  got  leave 
from  Lovat  to  inspect  the  Vault  of  the  Lovat  family  at  Kirkhill,  and 
strange  to  say  removed  the  plates  from  the  different  coffins  —  and  left 
them  I  think  with  some  shop  keeper  in  Inverness.  However  on  this 
coming  to  Lord  Lovats  notice,  the  plates  were  again  restored  —  I 
have  never  heard  what  was  Sir  Wm's.  motive  in  acting  in  such  a  way, 
but  I  fancy  he  did  so  in  the  interest  of  John  Fraser  the  Claimant  —  I 
find  I  have  a  cutting  which  I  took  from  the  Aberdeen  Journal  about  the 
coffin  plates  and  I  now  enclose  it  in  this  you  may  depend  on  it  that  as 
soon  as  I  can  lay  hands  on  the  Report  of  this  case  I  shall  at  once  send 
it  to  you. 

Believe  me 

Yours  very  truly 

Wm.  N.  Fraser 

P.S.  Lord  Saltoun  died  in  London  the  day  before  yesterday.  He 
represented  the  most  ancient  branch  of  the  Fraser  family 


10- 


Copy  of  a  letter  from  Mr.  B.  Homer  Dixon  Consul  General  for  the 
Netherlands  in  Toronto,  to  Mr.  Archibald  Mackensie  Dean  of  Guild. 
Inverness,  Scotland,  and  sent  by  the  latter  to  me. 

Toronto.  Dec.   1885. 
My  dear  Sir 

I  have  just  read  with  much  interest  your  account  of  the  Lovat 
case.  Some  years  ago — 30  or  40 — I  had  a  friend  Persifor  Frazer  of 
Philadelphia,  who  always  claimed  a  cousinship  with  me  as  being  de- 
scended from  Alexander  son  of  Thomas,  who  went  to  Wales  

although  my  impression  is  that  my  old  friend  said  he  went  to  the  north 
of  Ireland,  though  it  may  have  been  North  Wales. 

But  of  this  I  am  not  certain,  he  always  said  that  Alexander  eldest  son 
of  Thomas  of  Beaufort,  was  his  ancestor.  He  was  a  perfect  gentle- 
man, moving  in  the  best  society  in  Philadelphia,  but  he  hated  the  Sas- 
senach !  I  do  not  think  any  of  my  American  friends  were  like  him  for 
this  was  before  the  war,  when  the  ill  feeling  of  the  old  Revolutionary 
war  was  dying  out.  He  has  been  dead  for  some  years  but  he  had  a 
married  brother,  a  Professor,  who  may  be  yet  alive.  He  had  also  an 
Uncle  Persifor  Eraser  Smith,  a  General  in  the  U.  S.  army.  And  talk- 
ing of  the  Frasers  reminds  me  that  my  father  used  to  tell  me  a  story  of 
his  great  grandfather  John  Fraser  Master  of  Lovat —  that  he  once  dis- 
armed a  recruiting  sergeant  and  twelve  men  for  which  he  was  (?) 
arrested  and  imprisoned  (I  think  in  Inverness)  but  his  brother  Simon 
Lord  Lovat  Lord  of  Regality,  went  to  see  him  (or  sent  to  him)  in 
prison,  and  advised  him  not  to  acknowledge  the  name  of  John,  but  to 
call  himself  Simon,  and  when  he  appeared  before  the  Court  as  Simon 
Frazer — Lord  Lovat  (or  his  deputy)  cast  the  Indictment  and  dismissed 
him.     did  you  ever  hear  the  story?     *     *     * 

B.  Homer  Dixon. 


lOl 


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